CEC clears resort construction near Bandipur National Park

Bangalore, Apr 9 (UNI) The Central Empowered Committee (CEC) has cleared the construction of eco-tourism project 'Cicada-Bandipur' adjacent to the Bandipur National Park in Mysore district, overruling the objections raised by the Wildlife Protection Society of India (WPSI).

A complaint filed last year by Ms Belinda Wright of WPSI had claimed that the resort would affect the movement of wild elephants in the sensitive wildlife belt, bordering Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Kerala, and it was likely to cause various other disturbances.

In its response, the promoters of the resort, Wilderness Resorts Pvt Ltd, had argued bringing on record documents showing that the complaint was erroneous.

The CEC Chairman visited the area along with Forest Department officials and ordered that it would be unfair to target one resort in an area where other resorts and agriculturists operated.

UNI