By The News Observer Desk,
Karwar: In a major setback to the construction industry in Karwar and Ankola taluks the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) has rejected two separate proposals seeking diversion of forestland in Ankola and Karwar taluks for stone quarrying.
The Ministry’s decisions follow detailed site inspections that raised serious concerns over ecological fragility and the potential for irreversible harm to one of the world’s most critical biodiversity hotspots.
First Proposal: 3.55 Hectares in Baleguli, Ankola
The first proposal sought diversion of 3.55 hectares of forestland in CMYK Baleguli village, Ankola, for establishing a stone quarry and constructing an access road. Although the area had been leased for cashew cultivation, the inspection revealed that it supports substantial natural vegetation and undocumented floral diversity.
In her inspection report, K. Yasodha, Deputy Inspector-General of Forests at the MoEF&CC’s Bengaluru Regional Office, noted that the proposed site is located on steep, erosion-prone slopes that experience heavy rainfall, making the terrain vulnerable to landslips.
The regional office found multiple deficiencies in the proposal and warned that permitting quarrying in this location would lead to large-scale ecological destruction in the Western Ghats. The office therefore declined to support diversion of the forestland.
Second Proposal: 0.49 Hectares in Arav, Karwar
The second proposal involved the diversion of 0.49 hectares of forestland in Arav village, Karwar. This application too was rejected owing to the ecological sensitivity of the location.
Inspection teams observed that the proposed quarry site lay squarely within the notified Western Ghats Eco-Sensitive Area (ESA). The forest type classified here is tropical moist deciduous forest with a dense canopy cover, indicating a robust and mature forest ecosystem.
Rich Wildlife Presence Including Schedule I Species and Tiger Pugmarks
Both sites recorded the presence of a wide range of wildlife, including Schedule I species under the Wildlife Protection Act. Animals documented in the area include:
- Spotted deer
- Leopard
- Mouse deer
- Pangolin
- Sloth bear
- Sambar
- Jungle cat
- Jackal
- Monitor lizard
- Reticulated python
Significantly, tiger pugmarks were also spotted during the site inspections, underscoring the area’s importance as a wildlife corridor.
Prone to Erosion and Landslips
Officials reported that the hilly terrain, combined with intense monsoon rainfall, makes both locations highly susceptible to soil erosion and landslips. Quarrying activity, the report warned, would destabilise slopes and pose severe environmental and safety risks.
Richer Forest Cover Than Recorded
The inspection further concluded that the forest cover in both sites was denser and richer than previously documented, necessitating a fresh tree enumeration to reflect the true ecological value of the area.
Strong Message on Protecting the Western Ghats
Environmental experts have welcomed the twin rejections as a decisive step toward safeguarding the ecologically fragile Western Ghats. Unregulated quarrying has long been associated with habitat fragmentation, soil destabilisation, flooding, and disruption of wildlife movement across the region.
The Ministry’s firm stance, observers say, sends a clear message that ecological considerations will be prioritised over extractive activities in sensitive ecosystems.
