Amidst concerns of potential landslides caused by heavy rainfall in the Western Ghats region, public access to the falls in the forest area of Belgaum district has been restricted. However, in defiance of the ban, a group of Hescom staff and doctors organized an unauthorized gathering. They ventured into the forest area and held an oil party, cooking with gas in front of the waterfall at Batawade Falls near Jamboti in Khanapur, Belagavi taluk of Belagavi district. The incident came to light after alert forest officials took action and filed a complaint following News 18’s continuous reporting on the matter.
Belagavi District Collector Nitesh Patil Patil’s directive on July 26 banned public access to forest area falls. In response, the police department set up a check post near Jamboti. Despite this, a group of doctors and Hescom staff, using a government vehicle, managed to enter the restricted area, resulting in legal repercussions.
Subsequently, a case was filed against four individuals, including a doctor, under the Wildlife Act 7 at the Jamboti Zone Forest Office, citing illegal entry into the restricted zone. Forest officials promptly seized the gas stove and kitchen equipment used during the unauthorized visit.
The Belgaum District Collector, Nitesh Patil, took note of the Hescom department’s inaction regarding the officers who used the government vehicle to enter the restricted area. As a response, the Collector issued a notice, instructing the forest department officials to take necessary action against the Hescom staff involved.
The ongoing heavy rainfall has breathed life into numerous waterfalls in Khanapur taluk, attracting many individuals who engage in reckless behavior near these falls. In response to such incidents, the Belgaum district administration has imposed a ban on entry to these waterfalls. Despite the ban, there have been instances of people managing to evade the police and entering the forest area to indulge in unruly activities.
