Karnataka temporarily bans trekking in forests after 4,000 climb Kumara Parvatha peak
Conservationists criticised the government after about 4,000 trekkers were allowed to enter the ecologically fragile area last week.
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According to sources, the trekking ban will be effective from February 1 till standard operating procedures are framed. (File/ Representational)Karnataka Environment Minister Eshwar Khandre on Tuesday directed the forest department to temporarily ban trekking activities in forest areas other than trekking routes that can be booked online.
This comes after about 4,000 trekkers were last week seen in the ecologically fragile area of the Pushpagiri Wildlife Sanctuary where the Kumara Parvatha peak is located, drawing criticism from wildlife activists and conservationists.
According to sources, the trekking ban will be effective from February 1 till standard operating procedures are framed.
In a letter to the principal chief conservator of forests, the forest minister pointed to the recent incident at the Kumara Parvatha peak in Dakshina Kannada and wrote that camping inside the forest would affect its ecology and pollute the waterbodies in the region. Activities like trekking need to be regulated, he added.
The forest department allows only 150 trekkers in each of the trekking locations managed by the Karnataka Ecotourism Board.
“I understand there is passion and enthusiasm of trekkers but it should not affect the ecosystem in any way. Unregulated entry of trekkers is resulting in chaos in sensitive areas. There have been incidents of leaving behind plastic waste, food and bottles in the forest and it is going to harm the wildlife too. We are imposing a temporary ban on trekking activities in all forest areas where there is no online booking provision currently,” he told the media.
The state government has also banned trekking from March to September owing to forest fires and the monsoon.
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