New Delhi, Jul 31 (PTI) The Standing Committee of the National Board for Wildlife (SC-NBWL) has told the Madhya Pradesh government to explore alternative areas for compensatory notification, while deliberating on the proposed denotification of the 478-sq km Bagdara Wildlife Sanctuary.
Located in Singrauli and Sidhi districts, the sanctuary was established in 1978 for conservation of blackbuck and other wildlife species including wild boar, jackal, fox, porcupine, hyena, and sambar.
The committee was informed that “owing to the applicability of the provisions of the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972, various developmental activities and land-related transactions in the revenue areas require statutory approvals, which have reportedly caused difficulties and dissatisfaction among local residents”, said the minutes of the SC-NBWL’s meeting.
Thus, the state government has proposed the sanctuary’s denotification to address residents’ concerns and facilitate development activities.
The sanctuary comprises about 230 sq km of forest land and 246 sq km of revenue land, covering a large number of revenue villages with a substantial local population.
During the meeting held July 9, the state government said the sanctuary’s forest area is fragmented and surrounded by habitations, making its reorganisation as a viable protected area difficult.
Its denotification would help focus conservation efforts and resources on other areas with comparatively higher wildlife and biodiversity values, the government said.
The National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) supported the state government’s claim, saying the sanctuary had limited viability as a functional protected area due to extensive human habitation, fragmentation, revenue land, and development pressures.
“The sanctuary includes 64 villages with a population exceeding 32,000, while the forest patches are fragmented and surrounded by habitations,” according to minutes of the meeting.
The NTCA advised the identification of an alternative compensatory landscape with better long-term conservation potential.
The SC-NBWL recommended that the state government could examine the Balaghat landscape as an alternative compensatory site, including an area located east of Kanha Tiger Reserve between Kanha and Pench.
The landscape between Sanjay Gandhi Tiger Reserve and Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve could also be an option, the SC-NBWL said. PTI ALC ARB
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