Forest Dept Pits Spark Grassland Destruction Fears

Concerns have been raised that water harvesting pits being dug by the Forest Department within Karnataka's Cauvery wildlife sanctuary are leading to the destruction of natural grasslands. Environmentalists claim heavy machinery used for digging these pits are decimating crucial grassland habitats essential for herbivores like elephants and deer, thereby threatening fodder availability and potentially escalating human-wildlife conflict.

Officials from the Cauvery Wildlife Sanctuary have refuted these allegations, asserting that the pits are intended to conserve soil moisture and promote the regrowth of grasses and specific tree species beneficial to wildlife. They maintain the initiative, funded by the Gram Panchayat under the MGNREGA scheme, is executed manually and designed to prevent soil runoff, especially in areas experiencing scanty rainfall.

Experts suggest that while water conservation efforts can benefit the sanctuary's growing wildlife population, scientific execution is paramount. They recommend focusing on revitalizing existing natural water bodies and ensuring community participation, rather than indiscriminate pit digging, to achieve effective and sustainable water management within the sanctuary's delicate ecosystem.