RTI reveals MoEF&CC cleared 3 highway proposals disregarding WII’s views -Ishan Kukreti

-Down to Earth

Ranthambhore tigers, Chambal gharials and a host of other species could be in trouble due to the clearance given to the highway proposals

The Union government has approved forest land diversion for three highway proposals in Rajasthan’s Ranthambhore and Mukundara Tiger Reserves, disregarding the Wildlife Institute of India (WII)’s views, a Right to Information (RTI) application by Down To Earth has revealed.

The proposals were approved October 5 last year and January 5 this year by the National Board for Wildlife (NBWL).

The proposals are part of the eight-lane Delhi-Mumbai Greenfield Highway project under Bharatmala. They pertain to three stretches of the Greenfield Highway. These stretches are:

* Bhenda Hera village-Moondiya village (26.6354 hectare Protected Area land and 706.204 ha non-PA land)
* Itawa village to and beyond the Chambal river near Banda Hera (29.019 ha PA land and 1222.741 ha non-PA land)
* Itawa to Durjanpura village (17.398 ha PA land and 720.977 ha non-PA land)

In addition to Ranthambhore and Mukundara, the proposed highways will cut across the Gandhi Sagar, Bhainsrorgarh and National Chambal Sanctuaries in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan.

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