BANGALORE, Aug 24: The state government has declined to extend permission to the Army for using the banks of Sangam river, situated about 120 km from here, as a firing range. Officials fear that the Army firing exercises would disturb wild-life in the neighbouring Cauvery Wildlife Sanctuary.

Government sources told The Indian Express that the Army has been asked to pack up its firing operations before November and look for other alternative locations, as the lease term for the land on which the range is situated expires soon. The firing range, situated about 40 km from Kanakapura (a town 80 km from Bangalore), has been in the eye of a storm ever since the state government declared 510 sq kms of forest, falling on the banks of Cauvery, as a Wildlife Sanctuary, in 1987.

The Army had obtained permission in 1985 to carry out firing exercises near Marikal Gudda (which falls just outside the sanctuary) for a period of ten years. When the lease period expired in 1995, the state government extended the licence for two more years bowing to pressure from the Centre, sources added.

According to Colonel Uttaiah, in-charge of the firing range, the Army too had decided to back out from the area since the government felt that firing practice would disturb the animals in the sanctuary. It was in April this year that the last shot was fired at the range, Uttaiah said. Rare species like grizzled squirrels and forehorned antelopes can be found in this place.

Besides, the sanctuary - which stretches from Sangam to Bhimeshwari - is considered to be a favourable habitat for elephants. But the animals were displaced from the Sangam area once the Army began its exercise.

Copyright © 1997 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.