A proposal by the Karnataka Road Development Corporation Limited (KRDCL) to build a concrete road to the Kodachadri hills, a popular trekking destination, cutting through the Mookambika Wildlife Sanctuary in Shimoga, has raised environmental concerns.
The Rs 9.74 crore proposal is now before the standing committee of the National Board of Wildlife (NBWL) and Ministry of Environment Forest and Climate Change for clearance.
The road project is proposed to pass through Kodachadri reserve forest, Chakra forest and Madibare reserve forest.
The KRDCL has sought the diversion of 5.50 hectares of fresh forest area land and 0.0676 hectares of non-forest land for “improvement of mud road to cement concrete road from Kattinahole to Kodachadri hilltop and Chakra forest”.
