Farmers stage a protest against the Forest department for giving permission for a film shooting at Himavad Gopalaswamy Betta, which is within Bandipur Tiger Reserve, in Gundlupet taluk, Chamarajanagar district, on Wednesday
Condemning the State government and the Forest department officers for giving permission for a film shooting at Himavad Gopalaswamy Betta, which comes under the eco-sensitive zone of Bandipur Tiger Reserve, members of several farmers' organisations staged a protest, at the foot of the hill, in Gundlupet, Chamarajanagar district, on Wednesday.
Shooting of a film, atop the hill, near the temple has irked the farmers and the locals.
The protesters gathered near the checkpost of the Forest department, at the foot of Gopalaswamy Betta, and raised slogans against the department and the government.
Raitha Sangha district president Madralli Mahadevappa said, "Himavad Gopalaswamy Betta is within the Bandipur Tiger Reserve and the movement of private vehicles has been banned from 2016. Despite this, the officials have violated the norms and given permission for film shooting. Strict action has to be taken against them".
"While private vehicles are not allowed, how did the authorities give permission for a film shooting of another language? In future, everyone will seek permission, for shooting. Will they consider their pleas? Will it not affect the wild animals? If the officials repeat this, the people will launch an intensified protest", he warned.
NTCA
Environmentalists too have expressed their outrage towards the Forest department for giving permission for shooting at the temple, coming under the eco-sensitive zone. They pointed out that the National Tiger Conservation Authority, in its letter dated November 6, 2008, has stated that since the core or critical tiger habitat under Section 38V of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, as amended in 2006, has to be kept inviolate for tiger conservation, no film shooting can be permitted in such areas.