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: