Environmentalists allege winter forest fires in Charmadi range are ‘engineered’: 

Environmentalists allege winter forest fires in Charmadi range are ‘engineered’: 

Context

Forest fires in the otherwise completely green landscape of the Western Ghats during the winter at Somanakadu valley of Barimale in the Charmadi range has set off alarm bells among the greens in the locality

Why?

This, they say, is done to encroach upon vast extents of reserve forests in the Western Ghats

Forest fires in the otherwise completely green landscape of the Western Ghats during the winter at Somanakadu valley of Barimale in the Charmadi range has set off alarm bells among the greens in the locality.

Where are these incidents happening?

Ironically, such incidents are happening frequently in the district/border area represented by Minister for Forests, Environment and Ecology, B. Ramanath Rai.

Not Natural but engineered

Environmentalists allege that these are not “natural” but attempts by estate owners in the region to extend their boundaries illegally into reserve forest areas.

Fires again and again

• The region had seen forest fires this February too, destroying a vast extent of forest land, including Shola forests and grassland.
• Barimale region is the birthplace of Aniyur, Sunala, and Neriya rivulets — tributaries of the Netravathi.

Effect

• Recurring forest fires and consequent encroachment of forest land will have a cascading effect on the flow of the Netravathi, which has already been drying up between Belthangady and Bantwal in the district
• Charmadi range used to be covered with green grass at least till February.

Dry grass

However, deficient rainfall this monsoon dried up all the water sources making the grass dry. Mruthyunjaya rivulet, a tributary of the Netravathi, has its origin in the region

Growing Estates

Many people have developed estates growing rambutan, rubber, coffee, among other produce at the foothills of the Western Ghats and have regularly been encroaching reserve forest lands.

Modus Operandi

The modus operandi of estate owners is to set fire to the forest first year, spray chemicals next year to completely denude the region of any green cover, and extend the boundary the following year.

Problems of the Department

Responding to this complaint raised by environmentalists, Mr. Rai said that the department has been taking action against those setting forests on fire and encroaching lands.

• But the department cannot procure helicopters as suggested by them since the country is “not that advanced”
• He said that the department recently recruited over 4,000 field personnel to guard the forest wealth.

Hunting goes on too

It is not just forest encroachment that goes on unabated in the Charmadi range of Western Ghats, but also hunting of wildlife in broad daylight, allege environmentalists.

Threats from the Hunters

Sahyadri Sanchaya’s Dinesh Holla encountered a group of about 35 people armed with guns and sharp weapons at Baluru Gudda near Kottigehara in Chikkamagaluru district during a recent trek. His attempts to dissuade the group from hunting were futile and instead he and his companions were “advised” to mend their way, he said. Mr. Holla’s complaints to the Forest Department did not get any response, but he got calls from the hunting gang warning him to keep away from informing the department, he alleged.