In the wake of a tragic surge in tiger deaths within the M.M. Hills Wildlife Sanctuary, a powerful appeal has been made to the Karnataka government. The request? To immediately reject proposals that would divert forest land for mini-hydel power projects along the Cauvery River, specifically within the M.M. Hills Wildlife Division and the Eco-Sensitive Zone of the Cauvery Wildlife Sanctuary.
Renowned wildlife conservationist Giridhar Kulkarni has critically highlighted this issue, emphasizing that these proposed projects would severely fragment an already stressed habitat. This area is already grappling with escalating human-wildlife conflict. Kulkarni specifically referenced the recent poisoning deaths of six tigers in M.M. Hills Wildlife Sanctuary over the past four months, a grim statistic that underscores the urgency of the situation.
In a direct letter to Eshwar B. Khandre, the Minister for Forest, Ecology, and Environment, Mr. Kulkarni detailed three concerning proposals: the Ranganathaswamy Mini Hydel Project by Pioneer Power Corporation, the Barachukki 2×2.5 MW Mini Hydel Project by Madhyaranga Energy Pvt. Ltd., and a 24.5 MW Hydroelectric Project by Balaji Cauvery Power Pvt. Ltd. — all three are slated for areas near Shivanasamudra and Sathegala in Kollegal taluk.
Mr. Kulkarni cited the heartbreaking loss of five tigers in June 2025 within the Hoogyam range of M.M. Hills Wildlife Sanctuary, followed by another tiger death on October 3. All these incidents are suspected to be poisoning cases. He argues that these fatalities are direct consequences of shrinking habitats and a severe imbalance in the delicate predator-prey dynamics of the region.
He issued a stark warning: the proposed projects, which involve extensive tree felling, blasting, tunneling, and construction near the river, would inevitably block crucial wildlife corridors. This disruption would lead to an even greater escalation of conflict in neighboring villages, further endangering both animals and local communities.
Emphasizing the immense ecological value of the Cauvery-M.M. Hills landscape, Mr. Kulkarni pointed out that the Cauvery riverine belt and its adjacent forests are recognized as essential elephant habitat by the Karnataka Elephant Task Force, 2012. He underscored that mini-hydel projects create impenetrable physical barriers, impeding elephant and other wildlife movement. This disruption leads to altered migration patterns, increased crop destruction in nearby villages, and a dangerous rise in conflict situations that often tragically result in the retaliatory killing of wild animals.
Mr. Kulkarni further asserted the critical role of the M.M. Hills-Cauvery Wildlife Sanctuary (CWS) as a vital connectivity zone, linking CWS, M.M. Hills, and the BRT Tiger Reserve—a fact that is thoroughly documented.
He also challenged an earlier expert committee’s recommendation to permit one of these projects with “minimum intervention and safeguards,” labeling it as misleading and outdated. His reasoning is sound: tiger mortality rates due to conflict have dramatically increased in recent years, and human-elephant conflicts have intensified across Chamarajanagar and Kollegal districts.
Concluding his urgent appeal, Mr. Kulkarni reiterated that approving these projects would lead to irreparable fragmentation of critical tiger and elephant habitats, exacerbating human–wildlife conflict to dangerous levels. The petition powerfully highlights the severe ecological repercussions these projects would unleash, warning that continued habitat fragmentation will only pave the way for more tragic incidents.