Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife) B.J. Hosmath is looking forward to Belagavi Deputy Commissioner N. Jayaram take serious note of the alleged illegal resort that has been carrying out its commercial activities at Chikhale village of Khanapur taluk in Belagavi district.
It is alleged that the ‘Soutira Resort and Mini Water Park’ has been functioning without due permission from the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB) and Department of Tourism for some time. The resort has come up at Chikhale village, within the Kanakumbi Territorial Range of Belagavi Forest Division and about a kilometre away from the boundary of the Bhimgad Wildlife Sanctuary.
Though the forest department officials in Belagavi issued three notices and advised to stop its operations till they got proper permission from the concerned authorities, the owners of the resort have paid no heed to it. Even the KSPCB, Belagavi, issued a notice in January. However, no action was taken thereafter and a physical inspection would be conducted soon.
Mr.Hosmath, who inspected the resort site, said he also visited forest ranges of Kankumbi, Jamboti and Hemmadga during the day, to get a first hand stock of the problems confronting conservation of the biodiversity and protection of wild life in Khanapur forests and adjoining areas.
He told The Hindu that the problems confronting the wildlife seems to have become not only permanent but increasing due to heightened human interference and shrinking of thick green cover among others.
