Nagpur: Rs54 crore for mitigation in road project near Karhandla in tiger corridor

NAGPUR: The road-widening project on Nilaj Phata-Paoni-Adyal-Bhandara tiger corridor has been approved by the state’s chief wildlife warden, with mitigation measures suggested by the Wildlife Institute of India (WII), Dehradun.
The tiger corridor of iconic tiger Jai was in the news on March 3, when highways and transport minister Nitin Gadkari, who was in Bhandara to open the flyover on the Wainganga river, had blasted forest department for stalling the 53km road widening on NH-247.
It has been scientifically proved from radio-collaring of tigers that the road stretch between Nilaj Phata and Paoni is a functional corridor between Navegaon-Nagzira-Umred-Karhandla-Bramhapuri-Tadoba.
“Paoni is also a range of Umred-Karhandla wildlife sanctuary and in the last four years over a dozen tigers have been reported moving in this corridor from both directions. Some became residents of Karhandla and Bramhapuri too. The iconic tiger Jai used the same corridor to shuffle between Bramhapuri and Karhandla,” said wildlife conservationists.
The project falls within the tiger corridor of Eastern Vidarbha Landscape (EVL) identified by the WII. The corridor connects Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve (TATR) with Navegaon-Nagzira Tiger Reserve (NNTR) through Umred-Paoni-Karhandla Wildlife Sanctuary.
The PCCF (wildlife) approved the proposal subject to the condition that proper mitigation structures proposed by WII will have to be constructed to benefit tigers and wild animal movement in the long run. The project was on the agenda of the 18th Maharashtra State Wildlife Board (MSBWL) meeting on June 6, but as the meeting ended halfway, it will be approved in the next meeting.
The 53km road up-gradation work of NH-247 in the Bhandara district is being implemented by the PWD (National Highway Division), Nagpur. It was submitted by the user agency on October 18, 2021, justifying the improvement to the existing road for smooth connectivity. The road will mostly benefit sand miners extracting material from Wainganga river. However, after TOI raised the issue of the corridor, a committee was set up for mitigation measures.
As per the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, areas linking one tiger reserve or protected area with another tiger reserve or protected area are not diverted for ecologically unsustainable uses, except in public interest and with approval of the National Board for Wildlife (NBWL), and on the advice of the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA).
“Though the road project doesn’t involve any protected area (PA), it falls within the tiger corridor identified by the WII. The total area required for widening is 35.577 hectares, which does not involve any forest land or PA,” said forest officials.
They said over 900 big trees will be felled for road widening. Of the total Rs279.15 crore project cost, Rs52.48 crore will be spent within the corridor. The PWD will have to deposit 2% (Rs1 crore) with the Pench Tiger Reserve Conservation Foundation for wildlife conservation and management activities in the state.
The PCCF recommendation also includes the condition that the implementing agency should provide funds for the construction of a dedicated Transit Treatment Centre (TTC) at Bhandara and Paoni along with infrastructure facilities with its operational cost for the next 10 years.
ROAD WIDENING IN CORRIDOR
* PWD to widen 53km road between Nilaj Phata-Paoni-Adyal-Bhandara in the tiger corridor
* Over 900 trees will be felled
* Rs53 crore will be spent on mitigation steps in the corridor
* Corridor links two tiger reserves and a sanctuary hence needs NBWL permission
* User agency will have to set up two transit treatment centres at Bhandara and Paoni with infrastructure, operational cost for 10 years