Grassland or wasteland? The tussle over Hesaraghatta continues

While environmentalists have been batting for the grassland to be declared a conservation reserve, local shepherds and cattle herders fear the move would affect their livelihood

The Hesaraghatta grassland is back on center stage following Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai’s directive to the Forest Department to conduct public consultation before declaring the grassland as a conservation reserve.

During the recent meeting of the Karnataka State Wildlife Board, Mr. Bommai, who is also the chairman of the board, said the local population should be taken into confidence before any decision is arrived at. He also asked the department to submit a report once the public consultation is over.

In 2021, the Forest Department placed a proposal before the State Board for Wildlife to declare 5,010 acres of grassland as a conservation reserve which was rejected by the board. It was alleged that an MLA from the ruling party had influenced the decision.

However, in July this year, the High Court directed the State Board for Wildlife to reconsider the proposal to declare the grassland as a conservation reserve. Since then, there have been volunteer meets and signature campaigns organised by activists and environmentalists who have been batting for the grassland to be declared a reserve.

Locals fear the proposal would affect their livelihood. They say there are about 100-150 shepherds and cattle herders who graze their sheep and cows on the grassland. A few of them, who spoke to The Hindu, expressed their concerns over the move.

“We oppose conservation reserve plan as it will hamper our livelihood. The number of shepherds and local cattle herders has decreased over the last few years,” said Chennappa, a cattle herder.

Venkatesh, another cattle herder, said earlier, there were more livestock, but many have sold them in the past few years and switched to other professions.“