Call for mass struggle to save Amrut Mahal Kaval

Leaders of various social organisations have called for a mass struggle for saving Amrut Mahal kaval in Challakere, where a Science City has been proposed.

Speaking at a public interaction on the “Save Kaval Struggle” at Challakere on Tuesday, the activists opined that people from all sections of society should be organised to launch a struggle for saving the grasslands. They felt that a legal battle too should be taken up.

C Yatiraju of Tumakuru Science Centre said that the proposed Science City was extending into the Kaval and if unopposed such “development works” of the government would enter the villages too. “The struggle should also be against development which is against people’s interest” he said. He opined that local elected representatives should be involved in the struggle failing which the fight may derail from the track.

Dr Sudhir G Ombathkere from National Federation of Public Movements said that there had been reports that the science institutes at Challakere had not followed the directives of Central Information Commission, National Green Tribunal and the High Court. Under such circumstances the State and Central governments should have directed these institutions to comply with the directions of statutory authorities.

Co-convener of Karnataka Public Health Movement, Dr Akhila Vasan said that  governments, these days, were attempting to sow the seeds of communal hatred in society and the struggle for Kaval should fall victim to such machinations. The invitation for the public interaction was extended to senior officials of State and Central governments also. However, none of them turned up.Leo Saldanha of Environment Support Group, Dr Chandra Gowda of Azim Premji University and others spoke on the occasion.