Chikhaldara skywalk crosses forest clearance hurdle, now wildlife nod awaited

Nagpur: World’s first single cable rope suspension bridge (skywalk) being constructed at Chikhaldara hill station near Amravati has crossed the first hurdle by getting forest clearance for 0.9286 hectare in the tiger land. However, the mega project will still have to wait for wildlife clearance.
The Rs40-crore venture is being executed by City & Industrial Development Corporation (Cidco) to boost tourism in the region. Though the project falls under the jurisdiction of Chikhaldara Municipal Council, the 0.9286 forest land, equivalent to over two football fields, is part of the eco-sensitive and buffer zone of Melghat Tiger Reserve (MTR).
Talking to TOI on Wednesday, Cidco executive engineer Devendra Jamnikar said, “We recently got forest clearance under Section 2 of the Forest Conservation Act (FCA), 1980. As per the conditions, we have deposited Rs81.86 lakh towards net present value (NPV), compensatory land, and afforestation cost. Over 70% of the civil works have been completed on revenue land. We will have to wait for wildlife clearance.”
State’s PCCF (wildlife) Sunil Limaye confirmed wildlife clearance is awaited.
Sources said the project may get a go-ahead with a condition that Cidco will have to deposit an additional 2% of the project cost for wildlife habitat management practices. The project was to be listed in the State Board for Wildlife (SBWL) meeting on April 29, but the meeting was deferred. After the SBWL nod, the project will also require clearance from National Board for Wildlife (NBWL).
Jamnikar said the 407-metre-long skywalk will be 500 feet above the ground and will be first such single cable bridge in the world. It will connect Hurricane Point and Goreghat Point in Chikhaldara. Most such projects in other countries are double cable bridges.
“Chikhaldara is the only hill station in Vidarbha and adjoining Marathwada region and hence the project has huge potential to boost direct and indirect employment through tourism. It will also supplement tiger tourism in MTR. We’ve already spent over Rs23 crore on the project,” said Jamnikar.
Earlier, on June 15, 2021, the ministry of environment, forest and climate change (MoEFCC) had rejected the project proposal for want of SBWL/NBWL clearances and study report on ecological tourism and carrying capacity and impact on wildlife and mitigation thereof. “All these conditions were adhered to before getting the forest clearance,” he said.
Cidco in its wildlife impact report admitted Chikhaldara is in the buffer of MTR, which is one of the last remaining unfragmented ecosystems for tigers and therefore it is necessary to undertake measures for the conservation of wildlife and its ecosystem.
According to the development plan of Chikhaldara, 111 hectares of MTR buffer zone fall in its municipal council area. The project will increase tourism and will impact wildlife too. Cidco is ready to assist Melghat in preparing fire lines before the onset of summer. It has also proposed to end menace of man-animal conflict.
TREATS THAT NEED TO BE TAKEN CARE OF
* Forest Fires: Increase in tourist activity may lead to rise in forest fires due to visitors’ negligence. Forest fires on mountain slopes are difficult to extinguish
* Monkey Menace: Monkey problem is common in hill stations and its management is most challenging task
* Plastic Litter: Visitors bring single-use plastics like water bottles, wrappers, straws etc and throw it after use
* Water Conservation: Cidco will have to work on this
* Habitat Development: Integrated works with the help of forest department must be carried out in degraded areas or near villages by taking up soil moisture conservation, water conservation and plantation of fruit, fodder, and shelter tree species