No ban on cycling, trekking in Bengaluru's Turahalli forest for now

BENGALURU: After much debate, the forest department has decided to allow enthusiasts of cycling and other activities inside Turahalli forest and also work on an alternative. Turahalli forest, near BSK VI stage, off Kanakapura Road, is popular among the city’s residents for short treks.

Several significant developments concerning the forest have taken place in the past few weeks. Most of the forest has been fenced. Last week, a meeting between local residents, cycling and trekking enthusiasts, environmentalists and forest department officials on allowing people into the forest for cycling, trekking and other activities was debated at length. In a relief for citizens, the forest department said that contrary to reports, there were no plans to construct any public amenities within the forest.

Abhinandan Nath, a professional yoga instructor who occasionally conducts rock-climbing sessions in the forest, said activities that do not disturb any part of it should be allowed. “But among cyclists, there are some who cycle very fast on the slopes, which seems hazardous for the other walkers. So entry of all kinds of vehicles should be barred,” he said.

Local residents, who have been actively involved in carrying out conservation related activities within the forest, say they are not against the entry of any such groups into the forest provided their entries are regulated by the forest department. “This can be done only once fencing around the forest is completed. During weekends, a lot of big groups, such as Karate coaching batches, enter the forest without any permission,” one local resident said.

Vijetha Mysoremutt, another resident who conducts nature walks for local children in the forest, said some cyclists know how to behave in a forest and some didn’t. She hopes that forest officials would let local residents take up maintenance of the already planted saplings.

Environmentalist Joseph Hoover, who also attended the meeting, advocated a ban on such activities. “Forest areas are not for entertainment. This will lead to other activities, and some people will want to camp inside the forest tomorrow,” Hoover said. He said only nature camps for school children could be allowed within the forest.

Sidramappa, deputy conservator of forests, Bangalore urban division, said the only public amenity planned within the forest is a tree park adjacent to the forest area. He said it is not feasible to suddenly ban activities such as cycling that have been going on for some time.

“We recognise that space is a constraint in a city like Bengaluru. We first want to give the enthusiasts an alternative, which is why we are considering to develop a cycling track within the tree park,” Sidramappa said. He said, currently, people’s entry into the forest is not regulated. But soon, the department will note down names and contact numbers of every person entering the forest, he said.