Nestled in Koraput district of Odisha, Save Balda Cave Odisha is a place full of mountains, forests, cool air, clean atmosphere and untouched natural beauty. The area has for years been associated with the traditions of local tribal societies, farming families, and people who made a living from the forest.
The cave is surrounded by mountain waterfalls, dense forests, and a variety of birds and wildlife, making the area still considered a natural sensitive zone.
The state tourism department also lists the place as a βnatural siteβ. This is why Balda Cave is not only a place to visit, but an identity of nature, culture and local life.
What is the biggest threat to this place?
Save Balda Cave Odisha came to the fore last month when the district administration held a public hearing on a proposal for bauxite mining here. According to media reportsβ
- Rural and local tribal communities in several villages openly opposed the mining plan.
- People alleged that mining would adversely affect forests, water and agriculture.
- According to him, the area is already environmentally fragile, with heavy machinery and blasting increasing the damage.
- The protesting villagers also recorded their statements at the public hearing.
Additionally, the sudden increase in social media crowds also allowed people to enter restricted areasβcreating problems like trash in the woods, creating sharp footage, disturbing animals.
Local forest department officials had told the media that unauthorized entry, damage to trees and wildlife disturbance were putting pressure on the area.
All this evidence suggests that Save Balda Cave Odisha problem isnβt solely tourismβbut also increasing pressure from mining and wrongful human activity.
If congestion increases, what will be the impact on nature and the environment?
The crowds grew rapidly after several videos went viral in JanuaryβFebruaryβmedia reports made it clear that there were complaints of garbage, plastic, arson, and riverbank pollution inside and outside the cave.
According to the Forest Departmentβ
- The natural habitat of wild animals is being disturbed.
- Bird going away from nesting area.
- Soil erosion of forested areas is increasing.
The situation could get worse if mining puts pressure on the forest.
Villagers argue that miningβ
- mountains cut,
- Water sources will change,
- Village farming could be affected,
- Species moving in the forest will migrate.
All of these statements are recorded in public hearings, local committee, and district administrative documents.
Although scientific data (e.g. wildlife surveys, water quality reports) are not yet publicly available, local experiences, statements and administrative procedures indicate that the area is sensitive.
Why is it important to save Balda Cave?
The hilly terrain around Save Balda Cave Odisha is the cultural identity of the local tribe. The villagers repeatedly said in their statements that if the forest fellβ
- Their everyday herbs,
- field,
- Drinking water,
- fodder,
- Fruits and flower everyone was affected.
Blasting in mining, machinery, road cuttingβthese can increase wildlife migration, impacting the entire mountain eco-system.
If responsible tourism, regulation, entry control, cleanliness system is implemented, eco-tourism, forest-guided tourism and employment of local people can also increase from the same area.
But without regulations, congestion and miningβtwo things combine to threaten the survival of Balda Cave.
This is clear from the public recordβ
- The district administration has already held hearings,
- Villagers have registered protests,
- The Forest Department has warned,
- Media reports continue to show problems.
As a result, the question of Save Balda Cave Odisha has become one not just about the environmentβbut about society, culture, and the local economy.
Eventually
The future of Balda Cave is in our hands.
Crowd control, litter prevention, wildlife disturbance cessation, and scientific review on miningβthese are the four things the area can survive.
It is our duty to save natureβbecause damage once done, nature makes up for it in years.
