The last existing piece of grasslands in Bengaluru faces a threat once again. The Hesarghatta grassland, which is home to a number of migratory birds from Europe and Russia, has now been chosen as a site for a theme park proposed by the Tourism department. In the State budget presented on Wednesday, Chief Minister D.V. Sadananda Gowda announced that a theme park will be created in Hesarghatta based on PPP model. But, within hours of the announcement, bird experts in city started fuming over the government’s decision which, they said, may erase the grassland ecosystem from the maps of Bengaluru.
The vast stretch of green cover at Hesarghatta is situated about 35 km from the city centre at Kodihalli village. This is the only remaining grassland of its size on the periphery of the city. “This grassland is not a barren land, but a thriving habitat and an essential part of the environment. It is even thought of as the “rarest of rare”, and is certainly the last remaining grassland around Bengaluru. Sadly, the grassland is under the Revenue and Horticulture departments and non-forestry activity such as theme parks cannot be stopped. But we can create awareness among policy-makers to dump the project and look for alternative location,” said Mr Vinay S., a bird watcher from city.
“The Hesarghatta grassland is one of the critical wintering grounds in India for migratory birds. Harriers, which visit these grasslands every winter, fly about 2000 km from Central Asia to spend the winter. Open grassland is important for them to find their food – mice, insects, field rats, snakes and other smaller animals,” said Mr Mahesh Bhat, a city-based wildlife photographer.
“We must make the government understand the different types of forest vegetation and their role. The grassland ecosystem is unique and particular types of birds and mammals survive here. Why would one travel 35 km to visit a theme park? The government should consider alternative locations so that the ecosystem can be saved,” said Mr Harish R. Bhat, a biodiversity expert. In August 2011, the BDA came in for severe criticism from bird lovers after it took up planting activity in the grasslands at Hesarghatta.