New govt plan to save forestland earmarked for Global City project

Gurgaon: Around three weeks after TOI carried a report on the environmental impacts two forested areas could face if the state government develops its ambitious Global City project there, the forest department has come up with a roadmap to conserve the flora and fauna in the 1002-acre forestland near Pataudi.
Sources in the forest department said over Rs. 6 crore had been sanctioned for preservation of wildlife habitat. The plan includes construction of underpasses so that wildlife can conveniently cross the area. Also, it includes soil conservation, building treatment centres for animals, digging of waterholes and making enough provisions of food for herbivores.
The state government’s project, which will serve as an important node to Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor (DMIC) sub-region of the state, poses a huge threat to flora and fauna of the two forests — 1,002-acre wildlife habitat near Pataudi and a 600-acre forestland in Narnaul.
Among many wild species, including Indian rock python, blue bulls, jackals and cobras, the forest is home to one Sambar, listed as “vulnerable” on the IUCN Red List. Also, leopards have also been spotted in the area. While the area near Pataudi has hundreds of sheesham trees, forest in Narnaul has kejri trees.
Activists, however, called for a systematic plan to conserve natural habitat of the forestland. “While it is difficult to keep wildlife close to an industrial corridor and amid human intervention, the best way is to look for an alternative route. However, if construction of an alternative route is not possible, the project should be developed on a 1,400-acre land located on one side of the Pataudi road and other side (that has about 600 acres) should be left as a wildlife corridor. There is a need to plan it properly. Otherwise, the wildlife won’t survive and we will lose precious flora and fauna,” said Anil Gandas, a wildlife enthusiast, who lives close to the forest area.
According to the law, any area that has presence of Schedule I and II species should be listed as eco-sensitive, and non-forest activities shouldn’t be allowed there.
The Global City project is expected to have residential and industrial zones, along with a large convention centre, and an 82-km-long mass rapid transit system connecting Gurgaon, Manesar and Bawal.
A major part of land earmarked for the project in Patuadi is spread across Gadoli, Khandsa, Mohammedpur and Narsinghpur villages, and is protected under the Aravali notification 1992. Non-forest activity is prohibited here.
A study conducted by the Wildlife Institute of India in 2017 also indicates presence of wild animals, including leopards and hyenas, in the area.