Forest dept draws up master plan for Kappatagudda ecotourism
Gadag: Following the final notification declaring a 423.7 sq km area around Kappatagudda Wildlife Sanctuary as an eco sensitive zone by the Union ministry of environment, forest, and climate change, the state forest department has drawn up an Rs 18.3 crore tourism development master plan.
Santosh Kumar Kenchappanavar, deputy conservator of forests, Gadag division, told TOI that the tourism department requested the forest department to submit a detailed project report on eco-tourism development under its 'One District One Destination' initiative in the hills. "We ensured compliance with wildlife norms and ensured that the habitat and movement of wild animals are not affected. We classified areas into A, B and C sites.
Now we are waiting for the approval of the plan from the tourism department," he stated.
Ashok Mandali, chairman of the Gadag taluk's Five Guarantees Schemes Implementation Authority, said: "The govt announced in the previous budget that it will encourage eco-tourism in Kappatagudda hills, which is an iconic identity of Gadag district. The tourism department will allocate grants on a priority basis."
Sources in the forest department said site A is meant for the entrance, information centre, trekking paths, medicinal plants, viewpoints and adventure sports.
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"Site B is proposed for a wildlife and nature information centre, medicinal plants' gardens displaying scientific information on plants and facilities for medicinal plants experts. Nature camps, accommodation, a star-gazing tower, and other facilities are proposed in site C," they added.
However, Shivakumara Swamiji of Nandiveri Mutt, located in Kappatagudda, said more human intervention leads to deforestation.
"There is a need for eco-sensitive tourism. If tourists continue their habit of throwing plastic, destroying plants, and disturbing the habitat and movement of wild animals, the Kappatagudda hills may be polluted. Currently, weeds like lantana and parthenium are growing rapidly in the hills.
The boundary of 80,000 acres was fixed by the British in 1890 itself, and there is a need to identify it. The govt has the responsibility of conserving the herbal heritage and habitat of Lambani tandas. Hence, a public hearing should be conducted before taking up any such major developmental works," he said.
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