In the midst of a rapidly developing area, the winged inhabitants of the Karnala Bird Sanctuary are again at risk from industries rising around it. The National Green Tribunal on August 6 issued a notice to Lenzing Modi Fibres India asking it to hold further work on its project till August 19.
The project involves developing a Viscose staple fibre plant at a distance of around 1.5 km from the sanctuary boundary. The plant is likely to produce gases, such as sulphur dioxide, hydrogen sulfide and carbon disulfide, which will inadvertently expose the rich avian biodiversity of the area to polluted air and water and acidic rain. The project is also supposedly located at a distance of around 700 mts from Patalganga river.
The sanctuary is home to 147 species of resident birds, 37 species of migratory winter birds and a number of rare species, including ashy minimet and spotted heart woodpecker.
Advocate Godfrey Pimento of the Watchdog Foundation said, “This ecology is already on the verge of deterioration owing to rapid urbanisation. These elements ultimately threaten the very existence of these birds.”
“We are not against industrial development in the region, but any development that is not sustainable will be opposed by us,” he added.
The foundation, under Pimento, has filed a PIL in the Bombay high court against the project and also written to the prime minister asking him to look into the matter.
The sanctuary has been under threat from more such projects even in the past and it has been observed that a few species, which were a common sight earlier, have now become rare because of the increasing development surrounding it.
The project was granted Terms of Reference in September 2011 but environment clearance was pending as it needed recommendation from the National Board of Wildlife and from the chief wildlife warden.
There will be a hearing after August 19. The officials of Lenzing Modi Fibres India were unavailable for comment.
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