Forest department to construct barricades at Kas to restrict tourist movements

Forest department to construct barricades at Kas to restrict tourist movements
Dipannita Das, TNN May 24, 2012, 04.33AM IST

PUNE: This monsoon, the state forest department will construct barricades along the road to Kas plateau, known as the valley of flowers, in Satara district, to restrict the movement of tourists and avoid trampling of flowering species.

However, local non-governmental organisations (NGO) and conservationists are opposed to a permanent structure being constructed near the site. According to them, it will be detrimental to the eco system and will obstruct the movement of large mammals and small animals.

Urging the forest department to stop the work, the NGOs have written to them pointing out that the Kas plateau was one of the proposed world heritage sites of UNESCO and alternative ways to control the tourist flow should be explored.

N R Praveen, deputy conservator of forest, Satara, told TOI that Kas plateau receives around 30,000 to 50,000 tourists on weekends during peak seasons. "The barricades are being constructed to restrict the movement of the tourists and ensure that flowers and plant species are not destroyed", he said.

"The barricades will be permanent structures made of steel and will have cement poles. It will be similar to chain link fencing. Special arrangement will be made to see that it will not obstruct the movement of animals. We are utilizing the Rs 2 crore that has been sanctioned by the state government for protecting the plateau. The work has just started and will be completed before the onset of monsoon,'' he said.

Praveen pointed out that a senior retired officer from the forest department visited the site and has given a positive feedback. "We also have done our own survey of taxonomy and diversity. We have geographical knowledge of this place and tourist frequency. Accordingly, the decision was taken to construct barricades,'' he added.

Sandeep Shrotri, president of Ranwata Nature and Conservation Mandal, an NGO based in Satara, has written to the principal secretary, department of forest and chief conservator of forest (territorial),Kolhapur, pointing out that the barricade or fencing will obstruct large mammals from crossing the plateau and that it will act as a trap for small animals, too.

"Kas is a very complex rock outcrop habitat, very different from forest habitat, hence conservation planning requires scientific scrutiny. Also, a plant-centric view or flower-centric view of planning will be detrimental to the ecosystem which has hundreds of other species, such as cryptogams, lichens, invertebrates, vertebrates, all of biological importance which thrive throughout the year and not just during the most obvious flowering period,'' the letter reads.

Shrotri said the area has its own natural ecological compound in the form of cliffs all around. "We have requested the forest department to stop the work and involve retired officials, NGOs, and local people to find other ways to restrict the tourist flow,'' he added.

Kas, known for its exceptional natural beauty and as valley of flowers is under threat from growing tourism, say experts.

Sunil Bhoite, an activist and a part of the Drongo NGO, Satara, dedicated to conservation of biodiversity for the last 18 years, pointed out that the forest department was just focussing on protection of flowers and plant species. "But there is other diversity too, like animal species. One can find animals like wild boar, rabbits, mouse deer, barking deer, sambar, leopard and civet cat, etc," he said.

"Wild boars found here help to till the land exposing the soil seed bank and aid plant germination. This area is ideal and acts as a migration corridor, thus a breeding ground for several animal species. There should be no barricades in view of the flowering and land use pattern. Rather, if awareness is created on the importance of this place, tourists will not trample flowering species and restrict their movement. Even live fencing, using plants can be an option, to restrict tourism movement,'' he said.

According to Mandar Datar, a research scientist, Botany group of Agharkar Research Institute, there are many rare and endemic plant species on the rocky plateau. "This eco-system is very sensitive to disturbance. But with rapid rise in tourism, it is putting pressure on land", he said. "Tourists want to take photographs and in the process trampling of the flowers happens often. There should be a ban on tourists visiting this place, for at least a few years, and a plan for restricted tourism activities. There has to be a proper scientific study,'' he added.