Hesaraghatta conservation won't inconvenience locals: Minister

The declaration of the 5,678 acre 32 gunta in north Bengaluru as the Greater Hesaraghatta Conservation Reserve will not disrupt the life and livelihood of the residents in the area, Forest Minister Eshwar Khandre said on Friday.

The minister was briefing mediapersons in the wake of the cabinet approval to notify the conservation reserve, where 285 species of birds, 13 amphibians, 111 butterflies, and 395 insects have been recorded, besides better known fauna like leopards, jackal, fox, and slender loris.

The minister said protecting the grassland and the three lakes was a much-needed initiative for the future of Bengaluru.

"The conservation of the grassland will not cause any inconvenience to the residents. Instead, it seeks to curb encroachment of the grassland," he said.