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5d ago

Wildlife Board Approves Infrastructure, Defence Projects Around Protected Areas Under Safeguards

Panel prerequisites for land diversions include rigorous site-specific studies, annual compliance certificates, afforestation deposits to limit habitat damage

The panel has approved “in principle” , the diversion of 310 ha of forest land from the core zone of Namdapha Tiger Reserve for the construction of Arunachal Frontier Highway. (PTI)
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Helipads, training areas, ammunition depots, housing: Wildlife board gives nod for 32 defence projects
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Overview

  • The NBWL Standing Committee approved on June 26 the construction of highways, a tunnel, defence facilities and small-scale forest projects across key wildlife reserves
  • Project clearances include 310 hectares diverted from Namdapha Tiger Reserve core for the Arunachal Frontier Highway and about 75 hectares in Kaziranga for a four-lane tunnel beneath the Brahmaputra
  • Thirty-two defence infrastructure proposals in Arunachal Pradesh, Gujarat, Ladakh and Sikkim were green-lit for strategic roads, helipads, ammunition depots, troop housing and forward aviation bases
  • Boundaries of Sariska Tiger Reserve were rationalized to expand critical tiger habitat by 43.38 square kilometres while reducing its buffer by 42.52 square kilometres
  • All approvals are in principle and contingent on Wildlife Institute of India impact studies, annual compliance certificates from user agencies and deposits of compensatory afforestation funds before work begins