Mysuru/Bengaluru: Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has ordered a crackdown on illegal resorts operating near forest zones in the Mysuru region, after a series of tiger attack incidents shocked residents and wildlife officials.
The CM said he will personally chair a high-level review meeting in the coming days to examine the root causes of the growing human–wildlife conflict around Bandipur, Nagarahole, and HD Kote forest areas.
“Several unlicensed resorts have come up inside eco-sensitive forest belts. They disturb wildlife movement and create artificial pressure on the ecosystem. Strict legal action will be taken against such illegal operators,” Siddaramaiah warned.
Unregulated Tourism and Dwindling Resources Driving Conflict
According to forest officials, the rapid growth of private resorts and commercial safaris has increased human intrusion into wildlife corridors.
With shrinking water and fodder sources and the expansion of tourism zones, wild animals — especially tigers and leopards — are increasingly venturing into nearby villages.
“Due to tourism-linked activities, animals are being pushed out of their natural zones. We are planning to reduce the number of daily safaris to limit disturbance,” the CM said.
Crackdown on Illegal Operations
The Chief Minister confirmed that the Forest and Tourism Departments have already conducted preliminary meetings on the issue. The upcoming review under his leadership will:
- Identify and shut down illegal resorts operating within forest perimeters.
- Audit all resort and homestay licenses in buffer areas.
- Enforce eco-tourism guidelines and cap the number of permitted safaris.
- Strengthen surveillance and patrolling to prevent poaching and encroachment.
“Tourism cannot come at the cost of our forests or local lives. Every illegal structure inside a protected zone will face legal demolition,” Siddaramaiah affirmed.
Balancing Conservation with Tourism
The state government is also preparing a scientific conservation blueprint to restore the natural habitat in the region and ensure safe coexistence between humans and wildlife.
Siddaramaiah emphasized that Karnataka’s global reputation for wildlife protection must not be jeopardized by reckless commercialization.
ಇದನ್ನೂ ಓದಿ: Are illegal resorts responsible for tiger attacks in Mysore?: ಮೈಸೂರಿನ ಹುಲಿ ದಾಳಿಗೆ ಅಕ್ರಮ ರೆಸಾರ್ಟ್ಗಳೇ ಕಾರಣ? ತನಿಖೆಗೆ ಸಿಎಂ ಸಿದ್ದರಾಮಯ್ಯ ಅಧ್ಯಕ್ಷತೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ತುರ್ತು ಸಭೆ
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