An RTI reply shows that the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) has asked the Karnataka government to find out if the improvement of the road leading to Kodachadri Hills can be retained to the existing width of 3.5 metre instead of the proposed 7 metre in order to avoid cutting down trees.
The proposal, floated by Karnataka Road Development Corporation Limited (KRDCL), was aimed at boosting tourism with the improvement of the mud road to a concrete road from Kattinahole to Kodachadri Hill top and Chakra Forest. The proposed road would cut through Mookambika Wildlife Sanctuary for which diversion of 5.5 hectare fresh forest land and 0.067 hectare non-forest land was sought.
