A case of disobedience of wildlife laws
Recently, the Madhya Pradesh Road Development Corporation has blocked the Satpura-Pench corridor for road construction. Because the Madhya Pradesh Road Development Corporation has allegedly neglected the forest and wildlife laws.
The corporation has expanded State Highway (SH) 43 by obstructing the Satpura-Melghat-Pench Bagh corridor.
The National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) had earlier recommended four animal underpasses (300 meters each), noise barriers, guide walls, fencing, monkey ladders etc.
Later, the Standing Committee of the National Board for Wildlife (NBWL) also recommended the project along with mitigation measures.
Sanction of Wildlife Projects in India:
- Projects that do not require environmental clearance also do not require wildlife clearance.
- In some cases, projects outside protected areas require prior approval from the Standing Committee of the National Board for Wildlife (NBWL). For example, the proposed project being within a notified eco-sensitive zone and listed in the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Notification, 2006, etc.
- NTCA may ensure that tiger reserves and corridors connecting one protected area to another are not diverted. At the same time, their ecologically unsustainable use should also be prohibited. These corridors can be used for diversion or other purposes only in case of public interest and after approval of NBWL and NTCA.
Impact of infrastructure projects on wildlife
Roads, dams and other infrastructure can generate noise, air and water pollution. These problems increase as the development process progresses.
- Habitat fragmentation and loss.
- Human-wildlife conflict.
- The migration routes of wildlife are blocked.
Source – The Hindu
