Shivamogga: Even as outrage continued over the illegal felling of thousands of trees for a solar plant at Kauri Gudda in Belagavi, a similar environmental crisis is threatening to unfold at Kopparige Gudda in Thirthahalli.In a violation of Karnataka Land Revenue Rules, 34.4 acres of land in Yadehalli village (Hodala-Aralapura GP) was being levelled for a layout, altering the topography of a hill that functioned as a Shola-type forest, vital for Malnad’s heavy rainfall. The ecosystem, home to leopards, barking deer, rabbits, giant squirrels, and rare birds like blue-capped rock thrush and flycatchers, was being damaged by heavy earth-moving machines, raising fears of landslides. While the TN Godavarman v/s Union of India case mandated protection for areas with forest characteristics under the Tree Preservation Act, local authorities have remained silent. Warning of catastrophic consequences, Shivamogga-based environmentalist Chirag said, “If Kopparige Gudda collapses, it could force the Kushavati River to change its course, potentially burying Thirthahalli town and surrounding settlements like Halasinhalli, Bettamakki, Nadthi, and Indavara under water and silt.” Thirthahalli MLA Araga Jnanendra slammed the tahsildar for ignoring the large-scale hill destruction, including the encroachment of three acres of govt land, and for ignoring early signs of the hill beginning to slide. However, tahsildar Ranjit claimed that only a few guntas of land belonged to the govt, and the remainder was privately owned. Assistant conservator of forest, Thirthahalli (ACF), Madhusudan, was not available for comment. Senior geologist in mines and geology department P Kumar Naik said he is waiting for ADLR reports.
