The Landscape Monitoring Unit (LMU) was busy during the quarter conducting rapid assessments of projects which can prove detrimental to the Satpuda landscape and specially the wildlife corridors connecting the tiger reserves in Satpuda.
The LMU visited the following sites and documented the threats to the tiger landscape in central India. Later LMU did advocacy to arrest the destruction with the help of partners and individuals within and outside Government.
1. Survey conducted of airstrip coming up just 12 km away from Pench buffer
The LMU noticed the work of a two-km air strip project worth Rs 4.56 crore close to National Highway 7 near Pench National Park and Tiger Reserve, Madhya Pradesh.
The Public Works Department (PWD) in Seoni district is engaged in construction of the site near Suktara village in Seoni district. The project would be detrimental to wildlife of Pench. The LMU has done an assessment and gathered the relevant documents of the project.
Above: The airstrip at Suktara near Pench Tiger Reserve
The project is hardly 12 kms from the Karmazari gate of Pench. Earlier, the airstrip was proposed near Kanha Tiger Reserve in Mandla district. However, apprehending opposition, the project proponent decided to construct it near Pench. Over 100,000 tourists, including 10,000 foreigners, visit these parks from October 1 to June 30. The facility has been created for these tourists.
Tenders to construct the airstrip in Suktara were floated on July 5, 2008. As the project was to be constructed on private land outside the core and buffer areas of Pench Tiger Reserve, it was unnoticed by the Pench TR administration.
However the project is located around 12 kms from Karmazari gate and 6 km from the buffer and small planes and mid-size passenger liners would be landing here.
The agency has not done any Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) before commencing the work as the land was not part of the buffer or core zone.
Having Nagpur’s Sonegaon airport close to the reserve forest, passengers have miraculously escaped with their lives several times, with planes hitting deer or wild boar. Here the airstrip is very close to the Tiger Reserve. Pench is special in being home to vultures and has provided a breeding ground for this highly-endangered species. Hits will not only kill animals but birds too.
The team found that the hoteliers who have set up luxury resorts at Pench are behind the project, eyeing foreign visitors. The LMU took up the matter with Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF).
LMU also studied a canal network being constructed by the irrigation department in the tiger corridors between Pench and adjoining tiger corridors, which is proving to be detrimental for wildlife in central India.
The network has fragmented the continuity of wildlife corridors. The LMU has written a letter to the Union Minister of Environment and Forests and pointed out its impact on the tiger corridor in central India, suggesting mitigation measures to be taken for saving the wild animals and specially tigers.
Above: Canal network creating barrier in safe dispersal and movements of animals in the tiger corridor
LMU listed the irrigation projects that have affected the tiger corridors through their canals. The wildlife corridor between Melghat near Amravati and Pench Tiger Reserve near Nagpur have been affected by the Upper Wardha Irrigation Project. The Pench National Park-Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve stretch is affected by the Gosekhurd irrigation project.
The corridor between Pench and Nagzira sanctuary is affected by Pench canals, the Pench-Nagzira corridor is affected by the Bawanthadi canal. The Nagzira-Navegaon corridor is affected by the Itiadoh-Zasinagar-Nawegaon canal and the Tadoba-Andhari-Navegaon corridor has been affected by Ghodajhari canal.
After listing the irrigation canals and corridors, Satpuda Foundation also suggested the methodology for designing mitigation measures.
3. Kishor Rithe on panel to assess the impact of proposed thermal power project on Nagzira tigers
The Government of India and the State appointed SF founder and president Kishor Rithe and four others to provide opinions on the probable impacts of the proposed thermal power project near Nagzira WLS. The issue was raised by NGOs objecting to the power project so close to Nagzira WLS, which is also a proposed Tiger Reserve.
The 3 units have been proposed at Tiroda at 163.84 hectare forest land which is proposed to be diverted for Adani Power Maharashtra Limited (APML) for its power plant.
National Tiger Conservation Authority of the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF), had already expressed concern over diversion of the forest land as it forms the corridor between Pench Tiger Reserve near Nagpur and Nagzira Wildlife Sanctuary near Gondia.
Kishor Rithe was asked to represent NTCA. On the direction of Additional Director General of Forests (forest conservation), the Chief Wildlife Warden of Maharashtra constituted a committee under his chairmanship.
The mandate of the committee was to study likely impact on the wildlife of Nagzira WLS and also the corridor between Pench Tiger Reserve - Nagzira Wildlife Sanctuary to Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve (TATR). The panel visited the site and submitted its report to the Government of India.
1 comment:
Work has been going on to develop the area of Itiadoh Dam as a conservatory because of its wetlands that attract several types of birds.
Post a Comment