Renuka wildlife sanctuary area to be denotified soon

Ambika Sharma

Tribune News Service

Solan, February 19

The denotification of 0.14 sq km area of the wildlife sanctuary at Renukaji in Sirmaur district will facilitate the creation of facilities for pilgrims and the beautification of the Renukaji temple complex. The denotification process is in the advanced stage.

Established in 1964, the Renuka Wildlife Sanctuary is located in 4.02 sq km comprising the Renukaji lake catchment. Lakhs of devotees pay obeisance at the temples of Goddess Renuka and her son Parshuram here every year. The lake is located in the centre of the sanctuary and there are various temples in its vicinity.

“As it is a sanctuary, the district administration has been facing problems in creating even need-based amenities such as toilets, a community hall, etc., for the pilgrims. Even funds received from the Public Works Department for the construction of pavements, upgrading the stage where cultural events are organised during the annual Renukaji festival could not be utilised,” said RK Pruthi, Deputy Commissioner, Sirmaur.

The decision of the state government to rationalise the boundaries of the protected areas network comprising wildlife sanctuaries has come as a boon. This will enable the denotification of the temple area and its precincts while additional area will be added to the sanctuary to ensure its effective area does not reduce.

“A total of 0.63 sq km area of the Renuka Wildlife Sanctuary comprising 0.14 sq km where temples, ashrams, a part of the Renukaji lake, the place used for the annual fair and other infrastructure are to be excluded,” said Chief Wildlife Warden Archana Sharma.

“Besides, 0.49 sq km area of the sanctuary will be submerged during the construction of the Renuka dam. This area will also be denotified from the purview of the wildlife sanctuary,” added Sharma.

No village is being included or excluded, and only barren 50 hectares are being added. The state government had issued an intension notification in 2010 to include an area of 0.50 sq km, following the approval of the Supreme Court.

“The demarcation of the area, which is supposed to be included, is underway and about 40 per cent work has been completed. This will pave the way for the final denotification of 0.14 sq km area of the Renuka Wildlife Sanctuary,” said Krishan Kumar, Divisional Forest Officer, Wildlife.