NAGPUR: After NH7 and NH6 widening that damaged Pench and Navegaon-Nagzira wildlife corridors respectively, it is now turn of Butibori-Wardha road widening project destroying Bor Tiger corridor.
The proposed four-laning of 59km stretch between Butibori and Wardha will cut tiger corridor from Bor to Melghat. National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) is implementing the Rs1,065.51 crore project but has no plans to construct any underpass for wildlife.
A fine-scale genetic study in Greater Tadoba Landscape (GTL) carried out by Wildlife Conservation Trust (WCT) in 2013 by wildlife biologist Aditya Joshi and other experts showed that Bor was an important link in maintaining gene-flow between Melghat tiger reserve and Tadoba. "Forest patches surrounding Bor are crucial for facilitating tiger dispersal and thus maintaining gene flow between two major tiger source sites," Joshi said.
According to NHAI project director PD Mendhe, there are no plans to construct wildlife passes near Kelzar near Selu where there is recorded tiger movement by dispersing tiger population from Bor to the other end. In 2009, a Bor tigress and her two cubs had made defunct Maharashtra Explosives Limited (MEL) factory at Khadki near Kelzar their home. Tigers cross state highway at a perennial nullah near Kelzar to reach the other side.
MEL is closed for two decades. Spread over 964 acres, lantana thickets and tree cover have come up in the area and therefore has become a safe haven for tigers and leopards. Mendhe said, "We are bypassing Kelzar due to densely built-up areas and local traffic movement. We will have to demolish many concrete structures and it is difficult to acquire enough land. There are no plans to construct wildlife underpasses there but existing bridges will be extended."
The detailed project report (DPR) has identified two alternatives for bypassing Kelzar. One is a 3km bypass from southern side of existing alignment through cultivated and barren lands. The second one passes through wetlands over on north side side due to presence of left bank canal of Bor reservoir. NHAI feels second is not feasible as the road would have to cross the canal twice and hence choosing the first.
"Even then, dispersing tigers from Bor will be hit as four-lane road will cut the corridor," says green activist Shrikant Deshpande of Nature Conservation Association (NCA). The completion period of work is 30 months and NHAI contractor Dilip Buildcon has already started felling trees on non-forest land from Butibori side. At least 7,870 big trees will be felled in the 59km patch, of which 39 trees are on forest land. Of the 375 hectares needed for road widening between Butibori and Wardha, 26.26 hectares is forest land. The project crosses Dham River at Pavnar and Selu and many streams and canals.
Despite knowing well about wildlife connectivity, Wardha forest officials did not insist on underpasses while approving NHAI proposals. Deputy conservator of forests (DyCF) DW Pagar said, "Permission to fell trees on non-forest land has been given and estimates for tree felling on forest land are being prepared."
Earlier the said road was State Highway 3, which originates in Ratnagiri and passes through Kolhapur, Sangli, Solapur, Tuljapur, Ausa, Nanded, Hingoli, Yavatmal and Wardha and terminates at Nagpur, having overlaps with several national and state highways.
The 59km Butibori-Wardha patch is now part of the 523km NH-361 which starts at Tuljapur and passes through Ausa, Latur, Chakur, Sirur, Ahmedpur, Loha, Nanded, Hadgaon, Umarkhed, Mahagaon, Arni, Yavatmal, Kalamb, Deoli, Wardha and ends at Butibori on NH-44. Some 273km road is in Vidarbha.
The proposed four-laning of 59km stretch between Butibori and Wardha will cut tiger corridor from Bor to Melghat. National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) is implementing the Rs1,065.51 crore project but has no plans to construct any underpass for wildlife.
A fine-scale genetic study in Greater Tadoba Landscape (GTL) carried out by Wildlife Conservation Trust (WCT) in 2013 by wildlife biologist Aditya Joshi and other experts showed that Bor was an important link in maintaining gene-flow between Melghat tiger reserve and Tadoba. "Forest patches surrounding Bor are crucial for facilitating tiger dispersal and thus maintaining gene flow between two major tiger source sites," Joshi said.
According to NHAI project director PD Mendhe, there are no plans to construct wildlife passes near Kelzar near Selu where there is recorded tiger movement by dispersing tiger population from Bor to the other end. In 2009, a Bor tigress and her two cubs had made defunct Maharashtra Explosives Limited (MEL) factory at Khadki near Kelzar their home. Tigers cross state highway at a perennial nullah near Kelzar to reach the other side.
MEL is closed for two decades. Spread over 964 acres, lantana thickets and tree cover have come up in the area and therefore has become a safe haven for tigers and leopards. Mendhe said, "We are bypassing Kelzar due to densely built-up areas and local traffic movement. We will have to demolish many concrete structures and it is difficult to acquire enough land. There are no plans to construct wildlife underpasses there but existing bridges will be extended."
The detailed project report (DPR) has identified two alternatives for bypassing Kelzar. One is a 3km bypass from southern side of existing alignment through cultivated and barren lands. The second one passes through wetlands over on north side side due to presence of left bank canal of Bor reservoir. NHAI feels second is not feasible as the road would have to cross the canal twice and hence choosing the first.
"Even then, dispersing tigers from Bor will be hit as four-lane road will cut the corridor," says green activist Shrikant Deshpande of Nature Conservation Association (NCA). The completion period of work is 30 months and NHAI contractor Dilip Buildcon has already started felling trees on non-forest land from Butibori side. At least 7,870 big trees will be felled in the 59km patch, of which 39 trees are on forest land. Of the 375 hectares needed for road widening between Butibori and Wardha, 26.26 hectares is forest land. The project crosses Dham River at Pavnar and Selu and many streams and canals.
Despite knowing well about wildlife connectivity, Wardha forest officials did not insist on underpasses while approving NHAI proposals. Deputy conservator of forests (DyCF) DW Pagar said, "Permission to fell trees on non-forest land has been given and estimates for tree felling on forest land are being prepared."
Earlier the said road was State Highway 3, which originates in Ratnagiri and passes through Kolhapur, Sangli, Solapur, Tuljapur, Ausa, Nanded, Hingoli, Yavatmal and Wardha and terminates at Nagpur, having overlaps with several national and state highways.
The 59km Butibori-Wardha patch is now part of the 523km NH-361 which starts at Tuljapur and passes through Ausa, Latur, Chakur, Sirur, Ahmedpur, Loha, Nanded, Hadgaon, Umarkhed, Mahagaon, Arni, Yavatmal, Kalamb, Deoli, Wardha and ends at Butibori on NH-44. Some 273km road is in Vidarbha.
Get latest news & live updates on the go on your pc with News App. Download The Times of India news app for your device.
