Key Facts

  • Location: Gadag district, Karnataka, India
  • Original approved area: 55 sq. km (previously omitted)
  • Current status: Court‑ordered inclusion of the omitted reserve forest into the sanctuary
  • Designation: Wildlife Sanctuary under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972
  • Unique focus: Conservation of wild flora, especially endemic medicinal herbs and grasses
  • Ecosystem type: Dry‑land scrub, grasslands, dry deciduous and riverine forests
  • Watershed role: Major catchment for the River Tungabhadra (Western Ghats of North Karnataka)
  • Key fauna: Leopard, Indian wolf, striped hyena, blackbuck, four‑horned antelope

Background & Context

  • The sanctuary was originally notified with a specific area, but a 55 sq. km reserve forest segment was inadvertently left out.
  • Stone‑crushing units operating within the sanctuary’s Eco‑Sensitive Zone (ESZ) filed petitions challenging the inclusion; the High Court dismissed these petitions, prioritising ecological conservation.
  • Karnataka’s ESZ guidelines restrict industrial activities that could degrade biodiversity and watershed functions.

Significance for India / Governance / Policy

  • Biodiversity conservation: Protects a rare gene pool of medicinal plants, contributing to traditional health systems and potential pharmaceutical research.
  • Watershed protection: Safeguards water security for downstream agricultural and drinking water needs in the Tungabhadra basin.
  • Legal precedent: Demonstrates judicial activism in enforcing environmental statutes and upholding ESZ norms against commercial pressures.
  • Policy implication: Highlights the need for meticulous demarcation of protected areas and strict monitoring of ESZ compliance.

Related Constitutional / Legal Provisions

  • Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 – provides for declaration of sanctuaries and protection of flora & fauna.
  • Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 – empowers the central government to regulate activities in ESZs.
  • Article 48A of the Constitution – directs the State to protect and improve the environment and safeguard forests and wildlife.
  • Karnataka High Court Order (06 Mar 2026) – mandated inclusion of the omitted reserve forest and dismissed industrial petitions.

Conservation Challenges

  • Habitat fragmentation due to encroachment and over‑grazing.
  • Illegal fire‑wood collection and poaching.
  • Pressure from mining and stone‑crushing activities in adjacent ESZ.
  • Need for community participation and sustainable livelihood alternatives.

Way Forward

  • Strengthen on‑ground patrolling and use of technology (e.g., GIS, drones) for monitoring.
  • Promote community‑based conservation programmes.
  • Implement strict ESZ compliance and penalise violations.
  • Encourage research on medicinal flora for value‑addition and livelihood generation.

Reference: Western Ghats Eco‑Sensitive Area