Central panel clears road, bridge construction in core area of Raj tiger reserve

The Union Environment Ministry’s wildlife panel has allowed the Rajasthan Government to use forest land in the core area of Ramgarh Vishdhari Tiger Reserve for the construction of road and high-level bridges across the Chambal river.

Core areas of the tiger reserves are usually left out of any infrastructure construction as it disturbs the big cat’s habitat.

An inspection committee composed of members from National Tiger Conservation Authority, Wildlife Institute of India (WII) and the Rajasthan Forest Department remarked that the project site -- conceived by the Rajasthan’s Public Works Department -- is ecologically fragile and home to the critically endangered Red-crowned roofed turtle and gharial.

The committee had recommended an in-depth study, but the wildlife panel went ahead and approved the project.

“The bridge is going through the Ramgarh Tiger Reserve and the National Chambal Wildlife Sanctuary. Connecting both banks with this bridge might ease the movement of locals, but the area is ecologically fragile and home to Red-crowned roofed turtle and gharial. Moreover, the area forms a part of the tiger reserve and is used by tigers for dispersal,” WII Director Virendra R Tiwari had told the wildlife board, according to the minutes of the meeting.

He suggested that considering the wildlife value of the area, an in-depth study needed to be carried out to assess the impacts of bridge construction on the two critically endangered species. It is also important to keep the river flow intact while construction and the area should not be polluted with the construction material and camps, he added.

Tiwari further recommended that the PWD should avoid any construction during the animals’ breeding seasons and implement sound and light barriers to minimise disturbance to the wildlife.

While the project was approved, chairman of the standing committee of the National Board for Wildlife and Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav have sought a report on the amount of flow that should be maintained in the Chambal after the construction of the bridge.