Chikkamagaluru: The rising off-road craze among tourists, fuelled by social media, is posing a serious challenge to the eco-sensitive hill stations, forests and water bodies in Chikkamagaluru, Sakleshpur and Belur taluks. In the name of adventure, groups of tourists with modified 4×4 jeeps and bikes are venturing off designated roads into grasslands, forest fringes and stream beds, threatening the fragile ecology of the Western Ghats, greens complained.In the latest incident, tourists risking their lives for reels drove a jeep to the edge of a 3,000-ft gorge at the famous Rani Jhari view point in Mudigere taluk, Chikkamagaluru district. The incident took place in Sunkasale gram panchayat limits where vehicle movement is banned. Despite the ban, tourists from Tamil Nadu allegedly drove right to the cliff edge and performed dangerous stunts to shoot reels. A slight slip could have led to a fatal fall.Kalasa forest range staff rushed to the spot, seized the vehicle for violation of forest rules and a case was filed against the tourists. Range forest officer SM Gowrav educated the tourists about the risky terrain and sent them off after initiating legal procedures.“Thousands of tourists come in hundreds of high-end vehicles only to create a nuisance. Earlier, it was two-wheeler groups; now off-roaders have become a nightmare,” said Parmesh, a resident of Sakleshpur whose house is located beside a coffee estate road. He said tourists regularly barge in asking for routes to restricted areas.Locals said rash and negligent driving by visitors unfamiliar with tough, narrow ghat roads has led to accidents. “A few days ago, a biker was killed in a road accident here. Majority of visitors have no idea about these roads,” a local said.Defending themselves, some tourists claimed their vehicles are meant for tough terrain. Pranav, a tourist from Bengaluru, said, “Forest and revenue departments have failed to protect their land and are blaming tourists. We do not know about the restricted areas. Why are there no signboards? If there were instructions, we would not have taken that route,” he said. “Our intention is not to harm the ecosystem, but to enjoy nature,” he added.Officials, however, said no vehicles are permitted inside forest areas and such activities will not be tolerated. “In the last two years, we have booked nearly 40 vehicles for entering restricted area. Several vehicles have been seized and cases have been filed against owners and drivers,” Sakleshpura RFO Hemanth Kumar said.The department said vigil will be intensified and signboards will be put up at sensitive points.
