Members of Break Through Science Society and Jogimatti Samrakshana Vedike submitted the signatures collected in protest against the installation of wind turbines in the Jogimatti reserve forests to the Deputy Commissioner and Deputy Conservator of Forests here on Friday.
They had conducted door-to-door visits in localities in the city, including the main bus terminal road and APMC area. People were told that private companies had installed wind turbines along the border of the 10,048 hectares of forests spread in Chitradurga, Hiriyur and Holalkere taluks, affecting the free movement of animals and birds.
Wild animals such as sloth bears and leopards and a variety of birds had taken shelter in the centre of the forest now and installing wind turbines there would prove harmful for them. It is estimated that only 3,500 hectares of land is safe for animals and birds now, they said.
The activists alleged that some Cabinet colleagues of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah were against declaring the forest as a wild life sanctuary and were trying to pressure the government to approve the installation of the turbines.
