Subject: Wildlife Hotspots part 2 Status: R Maharashtra, Melghat Tiger Reserve: the Chikaldhara Pump Storage project is coming up in prime tiger habitat on the border of the Melghat Tiger Reserve. Apart from drowning valuable forests, this project will cut new roads, introduce fresh construction and in the process enhance the disturbance in the tiger reserve to unheard of levels. The State government has also taken the ill-advised step of denotifying over 500 sq. kms. of this crucial tiger reserve to make way for timber operations, the construction of a new dam and also to enable quarrying and mining operations. If these dry deciduous forests actually disintegrate, the loss to the nation in terms of watershed degradation will be incalculable. The Sipna and Dolnar rivers, in particular, will become less reliable, as will the ability of the Tapi river to supply water to downstream communities. Maharashtra, Tadoba Tiger Reserve: A large tract comprising 6548 hectares of forests is under threat for supplying coal for Nippon Denro Ispat's thermal power project. The mining proposal awaits clearance under the Forest (Conservation) Act. But senior forest officers in the state say that it threatens the departments Clonal Teak Seed Orchard set up in 1969 and containing "a priceless collection of clones of teak" as well as affecting the reserve and protected forests in Lohara, Baranj and Bandar blocks. Furthermore these are located very close to Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve and "mining activities here could spoil the continuous track of forest, severely damaging the habitat of tigers and other wildlife". Roads are also being planned which will dissect this protected area. Meghalaya, Balpakram National Park: This region is one of the biodiversity hotspots of the subcontinent. The Garo Hills have already suffered major destablilisation on account of deforestation. A plan for limestone mining by the ACC Cement Company threatens a crucial elephant corridor that passes through the Siju Rekwak Sanctuary. A proposal to mine Uranium at Domiasiat compounds the threat of environmental degradation hanging over the people and wildlife of Meghalaya on account of new and dangerous radiation contamination. The Garo Hills, meanwhile, continue to suffer the depredation of armed timber smugglers, said to be working hand in glove with insurrectionists. Mizoram, Aizwal: The Turial Hydroelectric Project has asked for forest clearance to submerge 53.30 hectares of forested area in which one million trees will be required to be cut. This mega-damage can never possibly be 'compensated' and it is vital that the term compensatory afforestation be abolished from use by the Ministry of Environment which uses this misleading term to justify the destruction of millions of trees by development projects. This is a biodiversity rich area which is contiguous with forests which harbour clouded leopard, tiger, leopard and elephant. Mizoram, Dampa Tiger Reserve, Aizwal: The Teiri Hydroelectric Project coming up on the western part of the tiger reserve could ultimately destroy the reserve as, apart from the submergence the huge scale of construction will bring with it, entire townships, a labour force of thousands, roads, timber operations, quarrying and digging and other such forest destroying activities. At the time of writing the labour force has already been deployed and they have not been provided any fuelwood alternatives. They therefore obtain supplies from the tiger reserve, an impact that has been predicted months earlier. The damage done to these forests is exacerbated by the fact that local communities practice jhooming and the cycles are becoming shorter with the passage of each year. Affected wildlife includes Hoolock gibbons, tiger, panther and clouded leopard. New Delhi, Ridge Forest: Encroachments, primarily by well-connected citizens has eaten into this singular wildlife habitat. Bhatti mines were allowed to come up in contravention of wildlife laws. This forest is one of New Delhi's most vital lungs and restoring its pristinity is crucial to the long-term survival and the quality of life of its residents. Unfortunately, the authorities seem only willing to act by wielding their authority against the poor whose houses are often demolished without notice or alternatives being offered. This amounts to tokenism of the worst kind, as it is designed to convince the public at large that 'something is being done' about the 'Ridge Problem'. Meanwhile the farmhouses of the rich and famous are left unscathed. Despite clear orders from the Supreme Court in response to a case filed by Mr. M.C. Mehta, the requisite resources and political will to implement the order has not so far been forthcoming. Orissa, Balukhand Sanctuary: In the Gada Bangar Reserve Forest area a proposal to develop a large tourism project was shot down a couple of years ago. It seems this idea is once again being mooted. This Balukhand-Konarak Sanctuary forms a contiguous belt within this forest and if the (Rs. 500 crore) project is allowed it will irrevocably damage the fragile coastal ecosystem. Apart from turtles, horseshoe crabs also come ashore here. At tremendous cost a wind-break forest has been planted and protected for years. All this may be sacrificed to make way for multinational tourism companies who wish to exploit its tourism potential by building more than 25 five star hotels, commercial complexes, helipads etc. Orissa, Chilika Lake: Though the Tatas prawn projects have been cancelled, the Chilika lake continues to be threatened by a mafia of prawn barons in the state. Siltation thanks to upstream deforestation is seriously reducing the size of this brackish water lake which is home to millions of water birds (160 species) and is the source of livelihood for thousands of fisherfolk. Thanks to industrial pollution almost 40 per cent of the brackish water fish that had been recorded 50 years ago can no longer be found here. The wildlife wing of the Orissa Forest Dept. has counted over 150 dolphins in the Chilika Lake. The Nalaban Bird Sanctuary is a particularly favoured spot, but fishing nets and bamboo gheries take a toll of dolphins here each year. Chilika is a national asset and we must augment the States resources and influence decision making to ensure that its ecological health be placed above commerce. Orissa, Gahirmata Turtle Rookery: Fishing jetties have seriously affected the integrity of the mangrove forests of Bhitarkanika. Now the Tata Iron and Steel plant which is coming up at Gopalpur is poised to unleash a series of ecological problems, many of which will permanently affect wildlife as far away as Bhitarkanika. To begin with, a critical water shed in the area is going to be devastated thanks to the construction of the Pipalpanka Dam in the Ganjam District. This entails the cutting of half-a-million trees including valuable teak in dense forests. The water of this dam is intended to feed the 10 million ton steel plant by way of a 120 kms. pipeline. The construction of 45 metre high embankments along the Rushikulya River in the Soroda Forest range is bound to have an adverse effect on the nesting site of Olive Ridley turtles near the river mouth. Rajasthan, Jamva Ramgarh Sanctuary: Over 40 marble mines operate inside this sanctuary, most of which were given permission to do so after the sanctuary was declared in 1982. The State Government's track record on wildlife conservation in the past few years has been well below expectation and a special meeting with the Chief Minister in the company of the Chairman of the IBWL might be one way to begin to reverse this trend. Rajasthan, Keoladeo Ghana National Park, Bharatpur: Major pesticide contamination is affecting the breeding biology of birds, particularly raptors. The pesticides, including the banned DDT and other organochlorines, enter through the water from the Ajan Bund. Tourism has also begun to take on industrial proportions and the litter left behind by such tourists, including large volumes of plastic and other such non-biodegradable garbage, threatens the water quality of the swamps. Rajasthan, Ranthambhor Tiger Reserve: Mining, a cement factory and new Asian Development Bank-funded roads which have been built right on the border of this threatened forest combine to reduce the habitat available for tigers. Additionally, the Banas river which empties into the Chambal is being increasingly polluted by industrial effluents. As of now there is virtually no monitoring, or control of such destruction, which, when combined with the recent poaching activities may well serve to wipe out the last remaining tigers of Ranthambhor. Rajasthan, Sariska Tiger Reserve: The industrial-scale mining which is being carried out in this forest, in contravention of Supreme Court orders is a classic example of the lack of political will to protect tigers. Additionally, the road connecting Jaipur to Alwar regularly takes a toll of wildlife and enables poachers to access the very heart of the reserve. Five star hotels coming up at Ajabgarh and being promoted by a Birla Group Company just outside the boundary of the reserve further threatens to commercialise and disturb the forest. These will do the forest considerable harm. The mines and tourism projects all benefit well-connected individuals. This enhances social tensions when villagers are denied access to meet their fodder and fuel needs, while rich and powerful people are allowed to exploit Sariska's commercial potential. Tamil Nadu, Nilgiris Biosphere Reserve: Construction of the Pykara Ultimate Stage Hydroelectric Project (PUSHEP) is being continued in this forested habitat which houses over 33 per cent of India's wild elephant populations. Three protected areas will be adversely affected including the Bandipur Tiger Reserve. A study conducted by the Bombay Natural History Society suggests that a vital elephant corridor has already been destroyed. This has separated the Nilgiri elephant population into two different sections. This they go on to add will ultimately lead to a genetic decline. A similar impact on tiger populations can be expected. Ironically the economic viability of this project has now been brought into question. It is vital that further damage be prevented and existing damage be ameliorated. Kerala, Perambikullam Wildlife Sanctuary: The Kerala Electricity Board is promoting the Adirapalli Hydroelectric Project which involves building a 23 m. high dam to diver water from the Poringalkuttu left bank project through a tunnel and two penstock pipes to a power house. This will adversely affect elephant movements in the Vazhachal Forest Division. This is one of India's highest elephant density habitats and is a crucial corridor between Perambikulam and Malayattur. Tamil Nadu, Kalakad-Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve: This is a crucial biodiversity vault which supports tigers, elephants and leopard, among other key endangered species. In the heart of the Sanctuary exists a commercial estate leased by the Bombay Burmah Trading Corporation which manages tea, coffee and cardamom plantations. The workers numbering over 10,000 have been supplied with their requirement of fuel wood illegally from the Reserve Forest for decades. Important shola forests have been sacrificed here in violation of the FC Act. In 1995 legal proceedings were launched against the company but not before they had inflicted massive damage to the ecosystem. It is important that the company be directed by the Indian Board for Wildlife to desist from any activity which adversely affects the wildlife of the region. We should also examine the possibility of using the Land Acquisition Act to take back critical connecting forest to prevent their further damage. Uttar Pradesh, Corbett Tiger Reserve: Tourism projects have proliferated to the extent that they are now affecting the movement of both elephants and tigers in the periphery of the Park. Poaching is also at an all-time high. Ganja collection leads villagers to enter the Park confines and new roads threaten the buffer area. Though this park has the reputation of being well protected, it is in fact very fragile and within a span of a few years decades of protection effort could be reversed. The irrigation department which had promised to return the Kalagadh Complex to the Forest Department has declined to do so and this is leading to the influx of a completely new crop of people who arrive in search of land and housing. Uttar Pradesh, Rajaji National Park: This vital elephant corridor is being pillaged by a complex series of intrusions. The very first tragedy to strike this tiger and elephant habitat was the Forest Department's action in promoting eucalyptus, teak and other monocultures decades ago. Subsequently the siting of heavy industries such as BHEL and IDPL in this forest had predictable results. An army ammunition dump was also sited here, not because of any strategic considerations, but simply because the land was available. The most damaging of all projects, however, was probably the Chilla Canal which runs parallel to the Ganges River for 14 kms. This canal cuts of the migration of elephants between Motichur and Chilla. There is a narrow one kms. corridor which is still possible to re-establish. However, one of the first steps we need to take would be to move the ammo dump and the other private land holders. For this, alternative sites should be found and offered. As of now a battle royal is raging between those who blame gujjars, baan workers and taungiya villagers for the woes of the forest... and the villagers themselves who blame the deterioration on urban demands placed on the forest by Dehra Dun and Haridwar towns, industries the rail link to Dehra Dun. The fact that a new District Headquarters is being set up on the very border of Rajaji near Haridwar, only goes to prove that the local communities are not far from wrong in their assessment. West Bengal, Buxa, Jaldapara and Gorumara: The Sankosh Hydro Project which seeks to divert water through the Farakka Barage will devastate these three critical wildlife habitats. The canals are designed to dissect the core area of the Buxa Tiger Reserve. Some of the most highly endangered species in India including elephants, rhinos and tigers will be placed in jeopardy. Damage will also be caused to the Jaldapara and Goruma Sanctuaries (the only ones which have rhinos in West Bengal). The Mahananda Sanctuary and parts of the connecting corridors of Jamduaar Reserve Forest of Kachugaon Forest Div. in Assam which have recently been discovered to be housing Golden Langurs will also be destroyed. The stated objective of the project is to ensure proper flushing of the Calcutta Port, however, even hydrology experts have expressed doubts about the technical viability of this scheme, as have some Ministers in the West Bengal Cabinet. The area is also affected by conversion of natural forests to orange orchards. And in Buxa dolomite mining continues unchecked. West Bengal, Sundarbans Tiger Reserve: The Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) is proposing to develop a national waterway 191 kms long through Sundarbans. The project is being promoted to allow deep draft boats carrying cargo and passengers to pass through the Sundarbans area of West Bengal, and Bangladesh. It involves 6,00,000 cubic metres of capital dredging and a further 1,20,000 cubic metres of maintenance dredging each year. The silt will be dumped on the edges of the channels. The Environmental Impact Assessment, states that: "due to the dredging activity, a complete change in ecosystem is anticipated". It goes on to confirm that: "as the proposed IWT route passes through the Sundarbans Biosphere Reserve, the channels used for the migration of tigers from one hinterland to another will be disturbed. This will also increase the possibilities of attack on human beings by these man-eaters". "The proposed development may lead to further increase in pressure on the already endangered species". The project threatens the delicate mangrove ecosystem and one of the most secure tiger populations in the world, yet it appears to be moving ahead. In addition, prawn cultivators have already converted thousands of hectares of mangrove habitats to commercial use. Conclusion: The above examples are only the tip of the iceberg. The death knell of India's wildlife is being heard by those who choose not to ignore the early warning signals. Regretfully, the Ministry of Environment is caught wearing two hats, the larger one being that of a facilitator of industrial projects and the lesser one that of needing to protect our wildlife. Unless these two functions are separated there seems little hope that anything more than tokenism will emerge as the officers in charge of wildlife are simply not empowered to act in defence of the wilderness. Nothing illustrates this fact better than the manner in which the World Bank Forestry Projects are being pushed ahead, despite the (private) misgivings of almost all officers with a wildlife 'bias'. The Action Taken Report virtually confirms this assessment on page five of the Agenda Notes for the Twentieth Meeting of the Indian Board for Wildlife. Point 9 suggests that the projects need not be stopped pending a study to assess the impact of the Forestry Projects on Protected Areas "without concrete evidence of problems caused by implementation of such projects." It is quite obvious that the massive exercise of road widening in and around our protected area network, the construction of hundreds of concrete structures even in critical habitats such as Panna and Kanha National Park, pesticide use in forest areas, replacing of natural species with commercial species and the bending of forest rules (resulting in the cutting down of thousands of fruit trees in Bihar) have not been noticed by the Ministry of Environment. I had written to the Ministry bringing the pesticide use in Maharashtra to the attention of the Ad. I.G. Forests (Wildlife) as far back as February 15, 1997. I have yet to receive a reply. In the meanwhile, reports of pesticide scams in the Bihar Forest Department hit the news. I submit that pesticides and forests are anathema. This one factor alone merits a stay on the execution of the Forestry Projects, pending assessments. After the toxic pesticides have been released in forest soils, no technology on earth will be available to detoxify the ecosystem. A similar problem arises in the case of the thousands of kilometres of roads being constructed throughout India. The information highlighted in this note on page one (Andhra Pradesh State Highways Project) is exactly what is taking place all over the country. If the MoEF is going to approve projects, very often without so much as a site visit, I would submit that they would be failing in their duty to the nation as the keepers of our wildlife heritage. The Indian Board for Wildlife is therefore requested to instruct the MoEF not to pass any road project, whether new or for improvement, if it passes through or within five kms. of a protected area... unless the alignment has been assessed from the natural history angle by an institution such as the Wildlife Institute of India, the Bombay Natural History Society, or an equally qualified institution in the field. I would appreciate help to add/improve the above information. I am already in touch with some of you in this connection. There are two areas of specific help I could use: 1. To make the information more accurate and complete and 2. to work on the actual map. Please write to the following address if you believe you can help. Bittu Sahgal, Member Indian Board for Wildlife, 602, Maker Chambers V, Nariman Point Bombay 400021 Fax: 91-22-2874380 email: