Bhandura works: Centre seeks Karnataka’s conservation plan

Panaji: The Regional Empowered Committee (REC), Bengaluru, of the Union environment ministry has told Karnataka that it will have to prepare a biodiversity conservation plan for the area where it has proposed to divert 28ha of forest land for the Bhandura nullah water project.Though the area is not in the Bhimgad Wildlife Sanctuary or its eco-sensitive zone, it is still a habitat for endangered animals, the REC has said. The REC has decided to inspect the site in the third week of May. The committee has, however, accepted Karnataka’s argument that its 28ha of proposed forest diversion for the Bhandura nullah water project does not fall within the Bhimgad Wildlife Sanctuary or its eco-sensitive zone.Goa has been opposing the Bhandura water diversion project, as it affects the flow of tributaries of Goa’s lifeline, the Mhadei.“The REC after a detailed deliberation has decided that the area proposed for diversion is outside the protected area i.e. Bhimgad Wildlife Sanctuary and its notified ESZ,” the REC has stated. “Therefore, state govt has to prepare a biodiversity conservation plan considering the fact that in and around the proposed forest area for diversion is a habitat for endangered animals such as tiger, leopard, and other flora and fauna as reported in the proposal.”The plan has to be vetted by the competent authority and submitted, the committee stated. “Further, the REC also desired that the chief wildlife warden (of Karnataka) comments on the possible impact of the diversion of forest land on wildlife be submitted,” the committee said. “The REC also decided to visit the area proposed for diversion tentatively during the third week of May for site inspection.”Karnataka govt has proposed the diversion of 28ha of forest land to lay pipeline, powerline, and other infrastructure for the water diversion project. Karnataka govt had told the REC that the proposed site does not fall in a tiger corridor either.