The district administration has demolished Soutira Resort and Mini-Water Park, which was illegally functioning within the proposed Eco-Sensitive Zone of the Bhimgad Wildlife Sanctuary in Khanapur taluk for around two years.
The operation was held in the presence of Assistant Commissioner Jayashree Jainapur and officials from the Forest and Police departments on December 27.
Wildlife activists have hailed it, saying the action taken by Deputy Commissioner N. Jayaram and the Forest Department had set a precedent. It was a warning to those who set up resorts in ecologically sensitive zones in forest areas, they said on Sunday.
The resort with cottages and modern amenities was constructed near Chikale village of Khanapur taluk about two years ago without obtaining permission from the Forest Department and the National Board for Wildlife.
This violation of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 came to light last year when a wildlife activist obtained information under the RTI Act from the Forest Department and took up the matter with senior officials.
Also, the Karnataka State Human Rights Commission registered a suo motu case and asked the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, Wildlife, to submit a report.
The Deputy Conservator of Forests of Belagavi division issued two notices to the resort owners. They, however, failed to submit supporting documents except a no-objection certificate from the Parwad Gram Panchayat. In May, the department issued a final notice directing the owners to vacate the place.
The district administration allegedly remained a mute spectator for long though reports appeared in the media and Forest Department officials wrote a series of letters to them. B.J. Hosmath, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, Wildlife, also inspected the spot and asked the administration to take action against the resort.
The Karnataka State Pollution Control Board issued two notices to the resort owner for not obtaining permission from the board and warned of seal the resort if the owners failed to submit documents.
