Hesaraghatta Grassland of Bengaluru is now a Conservation Reserve

Hesaraghatta Grassland of Bengaluru is now a Conservation Reserve

The Karnataka State Board for Wild Life (SBWL) has approved a total of 5,010 acres to be declared as the “ Greater Hesaraghatta Grassland Conservation Reserve ” under section 36A of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.
By this decision, the Hesaraghatta lakebed gets protection from human activities, such as vehicular movements, sand mining, hunting and plantations.
Why Hesaraghatta?
Hesaraghatta Lake has undergone tremendous change over the last three decades. The unrestricted human and vehicular activities have been impacting biodiversity.
Hesaraghatta lakebed area is critical to the water security of Bengaluru city.
It will help the rejuvenation of Arkavathy river basin .
What is a conservation area?
A conservation reserve is an area owned by the state government and is generally found adjacent to National parks and sanctuaries and those areas that link one protected area with another.
“Land” is a State property . The state government may after consulting local communities, declare any area as “ Conservation Reserve ” under section 36A of the Wild Life (Protection) Act 1972 .