Bengaluru: Karnataka is set to get its first marine sanctuary in Uttara Kannada district, with a key committee of Karnataka State Board for Wildlife (SBWL), headed by forest minister Eshwar Khandre, greenlighting the proposal. Formally called Mugli-Apsarakonda Marine Sanctuary, the proposal now awaits the formal nod from the state cabinet.The sanctuary near Karwar will sit over 5,960 hectares, of which 835 hectares comprise the territorial waterbody of Arabian Sea, extending up to 6km from the shore, and another 835 hectares will be laterite plateau.Sources said the proposal has been pending before the state cabinet ever since it was approved by SBWL headed by then CM BS Yediyurappa. The proposal suffered delays due to Covid. In 2022, it was brought back to the front burner.This will be India’s seventh marine sanctuary after the two in Andaman and Nicobar Islands and one each in Gujarat, Odisha, Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra.The Karnataka sanctuary will have 5,400 hectares of mangrove forests, along with endangered species such as humpback whales, spot-tail sharks, olive-ridley turtles, and 80 species of sea birds. The 14 species of coral reefs found around Netrani Island, over 50 phytoplankton, and more than 100 zooplankton species, along with two species of sea grass and 100-plus species of seaweeds, will also be part of the sanctuary, according to forest department.Bhimgad villagers to be rehabilitated on May 17The SBWL standing committee has resolved to complete the controversial rehabilitation of villagers from Talaiwadi village in Bhimgad Wildlife Sanctuary of Khanapur taluk in Belagavi district.This is the first non-tiger reserve rehabilitation project, which courted controversy over disparity in providing financial packages. While the state govt resolved to pay each of the 15 families Rs 15 lakh, villagers demanded more along with other facilities.Forest minister Eshwar Khandre had held a meeting with them in Dec 2024 and convinced the villagers to voluntarily relocate outside the forest. Officials said the villagers will be given cheques at a function in Bhimgad Sanctuary on May 17.