Despite tiger authority’s critical report, ministry approves dam project in MP

Despite a critical report by the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA), a dam project proposed by the Madhya Pradesh Government across the Ganjal river has been approved by the Forest Advisory Committee of the Environment Ministry.

According to a 2024 report by the NTCA, the project would result in the submergence of tiger corridor which acts as a link between the Satpura and Melghat tiger reserves.

The Madhya Pradesh Government had initially proposed the construction of two dams -- one across the Morand River and another across the Ganjal River. The proposed site lies within a tiger-occupied forest, as documented in the National Tiger Estimation Exercise, 2022.

The NTCA report said, “These findings highlight the high biodiversity value of the proposed dam site and its importance as a habitat for several endangered and ecologically significant species. The construction of these dams will result in the submergence of forested areas that serve as a vital connecting link between the Satpura and Melghat tiger reserves.”

“Both reserves currently exhibit low tiger densities and operate within a meta-population framework, relying on the movement of tigers and other wildlife through this corridor for genetic exchange and population stability. Any disruption to this ecological connectivity will likely have detrimental impacts on the viability of tiger populations and the broader wildlife community within this landscape,” the report added.

A year later, a sub-committee consisting of senior officials of the ministry was formed. In June this year, officials, who had visited the project site, said the area around the project site already had a highway and a large reservoir, which has not impacted the tiger movement.

“The sub-committee further observed that the functional integrity of the corridor does not appear to have been significantly compromised by the existing hydrological infrastructure. Consequently, it is unlikely that the submergence of forest areas after the construction of the Morand and Ganjal reservoirs would critically impede tigers’ movement,” the sub-committee said in its report submitted to the ministry.

“Based on the recommendation of the sub-committee, in-principle approval has been granted only for the construction of the Ganjal dam irrigation project. The decision on the Morand dam will be taken after studying the impacts of the first dam in detail,” the Union Ministry said, adding that the study would be carried out by the Wildlife Institute of India.