Ecologically Fragile Zone to protect wildlife habitat

Mysore, Apr 23 (UNI) The Forest Department proposed to create an ecologically Fragile zone around a ten km radius of the Bandipur National Park, 80 km from here, to minimise disturbance to wildlife habitat, Deputy Conservator of Forests, Bandipur, Venkatesh informed today.

Talking to UNI, he said a proposal to this effect had been submitted to the state government for approval. This was akin to identifying forests abutting the park as enviornmentally sensitive areas as stipulated by the Enviornment Protection Act and introducing stringent land use pattern that was in conformity with the surroundings.

Once it was declared as ecologically fragile area, it would help the forest department regulate tourism and movement of people within the forest areas. ''We will not stop or curb all torusim related activities, but will regulate the flow so that it does not exceed our capacity to handle them.'' he explained.

The popularity of the Bandipur National Park was growing day by day and it received nearly 60,000 tourists every year. It churned out a revenue of Rs 82 lakh during 2005-06.

As part of its tourism promotion activities, the department had built cottages in the Park to accommodate 72 people at a time. The cottages were booked in advance and was occupied most of the days.

Though the revenue earnings owing to the surge in tourist flow had increased over the years, a section of the department officials felt that the habitat had been disturbed and called for regulating tourists visit to the Park.

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