Western Ghats panel to open Maleshankara office for better governance, communication

Shivamogga: In a major step towards decentralising the administration and protecting ecological sensitivity of the area, the Western Ghats Conservation Task Force Committee said it will establish a dedicated office in Maleshankara, a village attached to Shattihalli Wildlife Sanctuary.Announcing this, Mohammed Tabrez Alam Shariff, the chairman of the task force, said Tuesday, the aim is to bridge the gap between tribal communities of the Shettihalli Wildlife Sanctuary and the state administration. The task force plans to work in tandem with the departments of tourism, forest, and mines and geology to ensure that tourism remains sustainable and biodiversity is protected. Speaking to reporters in Shivamogga, Shariff said the office in Maleshankara will handle infrastructure issues and public grievances, for which residents had to travel earlier to Bengaluru. Shariff emphasised he would personally visit Maleshankara to inspect drinking water issues and listen to the concerns of tribal groups. Karnataka remains at the forefront of environmental preservation, being the first of the six Western Ghats states to form a conservation committee in 2008. The task force is gathering data on the rising number of homestays and resorts mushrooming in the region, to implement a strict standard operating procedure (SOP) regarding plastic use and environmental impact. Shariff noted that the Sharavathi Pumped Storage Project has been stayed by the Karnataka high court, asserting that any project that threatens the integrity of the Ghats requires extreme caution. He also said he would inspect the Hulikal Ghat to understand its specific environmental challenges. DCF Ajjaiah noted that Shivamogga district boasts 39% forest cover spanning 420,000 hectares. This includes three vital protected areas: the Shettihalli and Sharavathi Wildlife Sanctuaries and the Gudavi Bird Sanctuary.