SC appointed CEC member visits Bannerghatta National Park over plea against reduction of ESZ
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Bengaluru (PTI): A member of the Supreme Court-appointed Central Empowered Committee on Friday visited Bannerghatta National Park in connection with a petition challenging the reduction of the Eco-Sensitive Zone (ESZ) around the protected area.
CEC member Chandra Prakash Goyal visited the park and held meetings with forest department officials to assess the potential ecological impact of the revised ESZ notification.
A senior official from the forest department said that Goyal visited the park and heard concerns of the parties involved, who also made presentations before him.
The petition filed by K. Belliappa and others in May 2025, contended that the notification reducing the ESZ, excluded ecologically sensitive areas around established elephant corridors, thereby weakening wildlife protection.
It also argued that the application of a uniform one-km ESZ norm for Bannerghatta National Park failed to take into account site-specific ecological requirements.
Speaking to reporters here, CEC member Goyal said this is a very important national park for Karnataka, particularly in the context of Bengaluru, as it lies along one side of the city. Like all national parks, it has an eco-sensitive zone (ESZ).
"There was a petition before the Supreme Court concerning variations between the ESZ notifications issued in 2016 and the final notification published in 2020. The petition contends that the reduction in the ESZ area in the 2020 notification is detrimental to wildlife, especially elephants, and that needs to be looked into," he said.
According to him, the matter has now been referred to the Central Empowered Committee (CEC), of which he is a member, to submit a report to the Supreme Court.
"My visit is primarily for compiling data and figures before finalising and submitting the particular report."
Responding to a question on the differences between the 2016 and 2020 notifications, he said, "The basic difference is that the width of the buffer zone was reduced from 4.5 km to 1 km, even 100 meters from the boundary of the national park in some portions. It has been reduced."
While the earlier notification covered ESZ about 290 square kilometres, the revised notification covers around 168 square kilometres. That is the key difference," he explained.
He further said that according to the petitioners, some ecologically important patches have been left out.
Goyal noted that reports submitted to the SC are prepared strictly based on data and technical details to support the committee’s recommendations.
"The case is scheduled to come up for hearing on January 7, and the report will be submitted before that," he said.
Addressing allegations that the reduction of the ESZ has facilitated the development of several resorts and layouts, including government housing layouts developed by the Karnataka Housing Development Board, he said these claims were mentioned in the briefing. However, it would be important to examine whether such developments took place before or after the 2020 notification, as that would change the nature of the issue.
On land acquisition concerns raised by farmers, who claimed that since 2013 they have been under pressure from the government to surrender their land, claiming a premeditated and organised effort to acquire land adjacent to the forest, he said, “We will look into these allegations. The panel will place its recommendations before the court. The government of Karnataka and the petitioners will also present their views, and we will try our best to ensure the report has sound ecological reasoning,” he said.
He also clarified that mining is banned within one kilometre of any national park or protected area. If any mining activity falls within that limit, it would be for the administration to take appropriate action.
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Ballari clash: Sriramulu, Janardhana Reddy hold press meet; statue unveiling postponed
Ballari: Former minister B Sriramulu and Gangavathi MLA Gali Janardhana Reddy addressed a joint press conference on Friday, a day after a violent clash broke out between rival Reddy groups over the installation of banners ahead of the Valmiki statue unveiling programme in the city.
Speaking to reporters, Sriramulu said the death of Rajasekhar Reddy, who was killed by a gunshot during the clash, was painful. He said he and his party would stand by the victim’s family and extend support to them. Alleging that Ballari MLA Nara Bharath Reddy was responsible for the incident, Sriramulu demanded legal action against him and called for a thorough probe to establish whose bullet caused Rajasekhar Reddy’s death.
Sriramulu further alleged that the clash was premeditated, claiming that a group had come near their residence with petrol-filled beer bottles and stones, allegedly with the intention of attacking them. He also alleged that there was an attempt to assault Janardhana Reddy.
Janardhana Reddy, addressing the media, said the incident had made him fear for his life. He alleged that there was an attempt to kill him and held Bharath Reddy responsible for the violence. Former minister Somasekhar Reddy, BJP Ballari district leaders and party workers were also present at the press meet.
The clash occurred on Thursday night in the Havambhavi area when rival groups confronted each other over putting up banners for the Valmiki statue unveiling scheduled for January 3. During the violence, a Congress worker was shot dead. Police have registered four separate cases in connection with the incident, including one taken up suo motu.
Responding to the allegations, Ballari MLA Bharath Reddy said the party was mourning the loss of its worker, Rajasekhar Reddy, whom he described as a close associate. He accused Janardhana Reddy of trying to divert attention from illegal mining issues and said the death had cast a shadow over the planned celebrations. He announced that the Valmiki statue unveiling programme had been postponed due to the prevailing atmosphere of grief.
Meanwhile, Ballari Rural MLA B Nagendra confirmed that the statue unveiling event had been temporarily deferred following the clash and on the advice of the Chief Minister. He said the programme would be held on a later date under the leadership of the Chief Minister and senior ministers. Nagendra also criticised Janardhana Reddy, saying there was no place for what he described as a “Republic of Ballari” mindset under the present administration, and asserted that the government would not allow any form of intimidation or lawlessness.
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