Nature lovers and members of the Bhoomigeeta Association for Environmental and Rural Studies took out a padayatra here on Sunday to protest against the government’s decision to install wine turbines in the Jogimatti reserve forest area.
It started from Jatpath Nagar and passed through the main streets of the city before culminating at the main gate of the reserve forest area. The participants said installation of wind turbines was a threat to the wild animals, birds and medicinal plants.
Shivamurthy Muruga Sharanaru of Bruhan Mutt said private companies had installed high capacity wind turbines around the border of the 10,048 hectares of forest area spread over Chitradurga, Hiriyur and Holalkere taluks, affecting the free movement of animals and birds. Wild animals, including sloth bear and leopard and various species of birds, had taken shelter at the centre of the forest and installing turbines there would affect them.
According to experts, only 3,500 ha of the forest area were suitable and safe for birds and animals. Three years ago, a proposal was sub,itted to the government to declare Jogimatti as a ‘wildlife sanctuary’. The government should take steps to declare it as a sanctuary, he added.
