Greens urge government to check destruction of Talacauvery ranges

Various environmentalists have urged the state government to check destruction and illegal encroachments of forest ranges in Talacauvery, the birthplace of River Cauvery.

Officials of the Forest and Revenue departments should jointly initiate measures to preserve the bio-diversity in Brahmagiri range, they have urged.

In a memorandum submitted to the government, they said, "There are steep curves on an 8-km stretch between Talacauvery and Bhagamandala. The Shola forests are situated adjacent to the road. However owing to human inteference, the Shola forest is being destroyed. The government should initiate measures to check the destruction of the forest."

"There has been increase in non-forest activities and construction of buildings on these curves between Talacauvery and Bhagamandala. The destruction of environment will affect the source of the river and will result in landslide," they warned. They demanded the government to identify the border of forest land. "Trenches should be dug in the border of the forest land. A forest committee should be set up at Cherangala. Over 60 streams flow in Talacauvery ranges, coming under eight villages of Bhagamandala, Napoklu, Karike, Ayyangeri and Kakkabe. The government should take measures to save these streams. The sacred groves in Bhagamandala should be protected," they demanded.

Padayatra

The members of environmental organisations had carried out a padayatra from Talacauvery to Bhagamandala recently and had submitted a memorandum to Forest Minister Ramanath Rai, Kodagu Deputy Commissioner Sreevidya and the Forest Department officials.

Vrukshalaksha Andolana president Ananth Hegde Ashisara, IISc scientist Dr T V Ramachandra, Karnataka State Pollution Control Board former president Vamanacharya, Dr Kesha, columnist-writer Nagesh Hegde, Ravi Changappa, Y B Ramakrishna, Dr Keshav, B M Kumaraswamy and Dr Shankar Sharma had taken part in the padayatra.