The Standing Committee of the National Board for Wildlife (NBWL) has postponed a proposal to use 134.1 hectares of land for the construction of a 4/6-lane highway on the Palakkad-Kozhikode stretch (NH-966) under the Bharatmala Pariyojana project. The deferment is due to the project’s proximity to Silent Valley National Park in Kerala.
Key Decisions:
- The committee deferred the decision until the Kerala government submits a complete proposal for declaring the Eco-Sensitive Zone (ESZ) around the Silent Valley National Park.
- The highway project, recommended by the Chief Wildlife Warden, the State Board for Wildlife, and the Kerala government, lies outside the proposed ESZ boundaries.
Silent Valley: A Rich Biodiversity Hotspot
Declared a National Park in 1984, Silent Valley is home to approximately 1,000 species of flowering plants, 107 orchids, 100 ferns, and several endemic mammals, including the Lion-tailed Macaque, Nilgiri Langur, and Tiger.
Other Proposals Reviewed
- Tiger Corridor in Andhra Pradesh:
- The committee considered using 9.89 hectares of forest land connecting the Sri Lankamalleswara Wildlife Sanctuary with Nagarjunasagar Srisailam Tiger Reserve.
- Site inspections have been recommended by the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA), Wildlife Institute of India, and Andhra Pradesh Forest Department to evaluate and modify the animal passage plan.
- Panna Tiger Reserve, Madhya Pradesh:
- Proposals for road widening and construction within the buffer zone of the reserve were discussed.
- A comprehensive meeting with stakeholders, including forest and highway officials, was recommended to evaluate the Panna landscape project and related proposals.
Policy Matters Addressed
The committee emphasized the need for stricter monitoring of infrastructure projects to ensure compliance with mitigation measures. Key recommendations included:
- User agencies must submit six-monthly compliance reports.
- On-ground verification by district forest officers.
- Inspection of at least 50% of projects by chief conservator-level officers, with field reports uploaded to the Union Environment Ministry’s Parivesh Portal.
Expert Opinion
Kanchi Kohli, an independent legal and policy expert, highlighted the need for regulatory systems to prioritize ecology and community impacts over merely managing project mitigation. She stressed the importance of adopting a precautionary approach amidst global ecological crises.
The NBWL’s 81st meeting has underscored the critical balance between development and conservation, with significant focus on ensuring that infrastructure projects align with ecological safeguards.
