Himachal bulldozes rules to widen wildlife sanctuary road

The Himachal Government has invited the Centre’s wrath over widening a road inside Shikari Devi Wildlife Sanctuary near Karsog in Mandi district. It has been told to submit an action-taken report on the matter.

Take erring officials to task, sukhu govt told

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• In 2022, HP had sought Centre’s nod to widen a road inside Shikari Devi Wildlife Sanctuary
• But began work sans approval; Had sought to use 3.9 acres of forestland, covered 12.6 acres
• The Centre has told the state to act against erring officials & file an action-taken report

A final decision on the issue will be taken by the Ministry of Environment. An impact study on the matter is being conducted by the Wildlife Institute of India (WII).

At a recent meeting of the standing committee of the National Board for Wildlife, the state Forest Department informed that a chargesheet had been filed against four forest officials for failing to stop the violation despite being present at the site.

“The names of PWD officials responsible for widening the road have been received. A case has been moved to the Secretary (Forests) for taking up the matter with the PWD to prosecute the erring officials,” the department said in its written response.

The state has already spent Rs 12.82 crore on the project. Under the Van (Sanrakshan Evam Samvardhan) Adhiniyam or the Forest Conservation (Amendment) Act 1980, it is mandatory for the state to seek clearance for taking up any project in forest areas.

In 2022, when the state sent a proposal to the Centre, the Ministry of Environment recommended that the WII should conduct an impact study and suggest mitigation measures. “In its report submitted on May 22, 2023, the WII observed that barring blacktopping, the road project was already completed within the sanctuary area,” the minutes of the meeting said.

Moreover, the state had sought permission to use 3.9 acres of the forestland for road widening, but the actual forest area diverted was 12.6 acres.