Intro
Illegal excavation using heavy machinery in Mullayanagiri foothills has raised serious landslide fears ahead of monsoon season.
Chikkamagaluru
Serious allegations of illegal excavation and unscientific land alteration have emerged from the foothills of the Mullayanagiri–Bababudangiri hill range in Chikkamagaluru taluk, raising fears of possible landslides ahead of the monsoon season.
According to local reports, heavy machinery such as JCBs and excavators are being used in the Shola forest and grassland regions, which fall under an Eco-Sensitive Zone and the proposed Mullayanagiri Conservation Reserve. Environmentalists and residents claim that the activity is being carried out without proper environmental clearance or scientific planning.
Allegations have also surfaced that new access roads are being constructed illegally, reportedly to facilitate resort and homestay developments in the ecologically fragile Western Ghats region. Locals fear that soil removal and unregulated construction could destabilize the hillside terrain.
Environmental activists have expressed concern that continued excavation in the soft-soil mountainous region could significantly increase the risk of landslides during the upcoming monsoon. They have warned that such activities may endanger both local communities and biodiversity in the region.
Critics have also accused district authorities, along with the Mines and Geology Department and Forest Department, of failing to take timely action against unauthorized activities in the area. They allege that regulatory oversight has been weak despite repeated complaints.
Activists have demanded an immediate halt to all ongoing earth-moving work, seizure of machinery at the site, and strict legal action against those responsible under relevant environmental protection laws, including the Forest Conservation Act.
As monsoon rains approach, concerns continue to grow over the stability of the fragile hill ecosystem, with experts urging urgent intervention to prevent potential environmental damage and disaster risks.
