To conserve the flora and fauna of Bhimashankar, northernmost wildlife sanctuary of Maharashtra, wildlife enthusiasts and environmentalists have come together to oppose a week-long spiritual gathering-beginning Saturday.

The sanctuary is 125 kms from Pune city. Ashish Kothari and Sayali Palande of city-based Kalpavriksha, an organisation working for the conservation of wildlife, Dharmaraj Patil, programme officer, Centre for Environment Education (CEE) and Kusum Karnik, an activist, have sent a formal letter to Jairam Ramesh, Minister of State, Ministry of Environment and Forests, asking him to ban such activities taking place in wildlife sanctuaries.

“Delhi-based Nandkishor Bajoriya Charitable Trust has organised a week-long Ramkatha Saptah at Bhimashankar on Saturday. Baba Morari Bapu is expected to address about 10,000 people near Kamalja Mata temple within the sanctuary on day one of the event. We are not against the spiritual activities but against the venue where it is being held. Bhimashankar is a sensitive forest and vehicular traffic, noise pollution due to the speakers installed during the week and public gathering is bound to damage the ecology of the forest. We have asked the minister to change the location,” said Patil, who has conducted a one-year research on leopards in Bhimashankar.

Famous for its leopards and giant squirrel, Bhimashankar is home to over 30 species of animals and over 300 species of birds. A group led by Kusum Karnik organised an agitation at Talghar near Bhimashankar on Friday to convey their opposition to the event.

“Between 12 noon and 1 pm, over 50 of us conducted peaceful demonstrations near the sanctuary, but I think even forest officials are not supporting us. One of the officials is guarding the tent that the trust has put up for the event,” said Karnik.

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