NBWL meet on January 21, to clear 7 state projects

NAGPUR: The ministry of environment, forest and climate change seems to be engaged in giving a big push to projects falling within 10km of protected areas (PAs).
After a gap of four months, the 32nd meeting of the standing committee of National Board for Wildlife (NBWL) will be held on January 21 at 3pm in Paryavaran Bhawan, Delhi, under the chairmanship of Prakash Javadekar, minister of state (independent charge) for environment, forests and climate change.This is the second meeting under Javadekar, with the first one held in August clearing over 120 proposals.
Seven projects, mostly irrigation, have been listed from Maharashtra. Some of the projects like Alewadi and Arkacheri are controversial as farmers are not ready to part with their land. Chief wildlife warden Sarjan Bhagat will attend the meeting.
The proposals pertaining to Maharashtra, which will be taken up for discussion, include permission to use private agricultural land for non-agricultural and educational purpose in Kashti village in GIB sanctuary near Nannaj in Solapur.
The meeting will also clear excavation at a strip of land for laying 45mm water pipeline along existing approach road to Appapada on 0.045 hectare forest land in Kurar (Malad) of Sanjay Gandhi National Park (SGNP), Borivali.
The meeting is also expected to clear controversial proposal for Alewadi larger minor irrigation project (LMIP), which needs 273.02 hectare private land, and proposal for Arkacheri LMIP, which needs to acquire 321.93 hectares private land, both in Sangrampur (Buldhana).
Farmers are opposed to both these projects which fall within 10km of Melghat tiger reserve (MTR) and is also in proposed eco-sensitive zone (ESZ).
Another proposal included diversion of 16.40 hectare forest land for Khindsi feeder canal from Pench irrigation project in Parsheoni. The project is 3-4 km from Mansinghdeo wildlife sanctuary.
Approval to the Patiya minor irrigation project having forest area of 9.33 hectare belonging to west Melghat division in Paratwada will be also taken up. Besides, there is also a proposal for diversion of 34.135 hectare forest land (identified forest/restored forest) for proposed Nardave medium project in Kankwali (Sindhudurg), which is about 0.75-2km from Radhanagari wildlife sanctuary.
A senior wildlife wing official said all the projects are set to be cleared as the state wildlife board has already cleared them suggesting mitigation measures.