Drop Agumbe tunnel, two-lane highway plan to protect king cobra habitat and local livelihoods
Shivamogga: A proposal to construct a tunnel road and expand the existing ghat stretch into a two-lane highway at Agumbe has triggered growing concern among environmentalists, farmers and local residents, who warn that the project could irreversibly damage one of Karnataka’s most fragile ecosystems.
The Agumbe Ghat road runs through the ecologically sensitive Someshwara Wildlife Sanctuary, a biodiversity hotspot in the Western Ghats. The region is widely known as a key habitat of the king cobra and several other rare and endemic species. Thick evergreen forests flank both sides of the ghat, while numerous streams originating in the hills feed rivers that sustain agriculture and drinking water supplies in the Malnad and coastal belts.
According to available information, Shivamogga MP B. Y. Raghavendra has advocated for a tunnel passage, road widening and additional pedestrian infrastructure along the ghat stretch. Tenders have reportedly been floated by the Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways to initiate preliminary processes.
While supporters argue that the project could improve connectivity and boost tourism, critics question both its necessity and its long-term environmental impact. Geologists and conservationists point out that the terrain in Agumbe is highly fragile, with loose soil and steep gradients that are already prone to landslides during heavy monsoons. Any large-scale excavation using heavy machinery, they warn, may destabilize the slopes and increase the frequency and intensity of landslips.
“Agumbe records some of the highest rainfall in the country. Even minor interventions often lead to slope failures. A tunnel or major road expansion in such terrain demands extreme caution,” said a retired forest official familiar with the region.
Local farmers fear that land acquisition for the project could affect agricultural holdings and homesteads along the proposed alignment. There are also apprehensions that construction activity within or near forest areas could disturb wildlife corridors, pushing animals closer to human settlements and intensifying human-wildlife conflict.
Environmental groups have appealed to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Forest Minister Eshwar Khandre to ensure that any infrastructure plan within the sanctuary undergoes rigorous scientific assessment and public consultation before approvals are granted.
Many residents have instead suggested that the government focus on regular maintenance, improved drainage systems and safety measures on the existing road, rather than pursuing large-scale structural changes.
As debates continue, the proposed Agumbe tunnel project has once again highlighted the delicate balance between development and conservation in the Western Ghats — a region globally recognised for its ecological significance.
