Wildlife board says ‘yes’ to Kanhargaon sanctuary

Nagpur: The Maharashtra State Board for Wildlife (MSBW) on Wednesday in-principle approved to declare Kanhargaon in Gondpipri tehsil of Chandrapur district a wildlife sanctuary.
The decision was taken at the 14th board meeting chaired by chief minister Devendra Fadnavis. Forest minister Sudhir Mungantiwar, top officials and members were also present.

The issue, which was not on the agenda, was raised by members Anish Andheria of Wildlife Conservation Trust (WCT) and Satpuda Foundation’s Kishor Rithe during a presentation by WII’s Bilal Habib on man-animal conflict and mitigation measures in the backdrop of killing of tigress T1.

Fadnavis called for separate policy to curb man-animal conflict and asked to constitute a committee for the same. He also said to boost ecotourism in six tiger reserves, a fresh proposal should be worked out and a proposal be sent to NTCA to continue ecotourism even during monsoon. He called for separate elephant squads in tiger reserves to control conflict around the reserves.

Declaring Kanhargaon a sanctuary is a four-year-old proposal that was hanging fire owing to political differences and opposition from FDCM, which has large-scale logging operations here.

However, the move seems to have been taken considering the flared-up man-animal conflict with tigers crying for space. As per the survey conducted by WCT in 2015, there are 10 tigers and 23 leopards in Kanhargaon.

“The lush green forest of Kanhargaon forms key southern corridor for spill over tiger population moving to Kawal tiger reserve in Telangana and Indravati reserve in Chhattisgarh through Chaprala and Pranhita in Gadchiroli,” says Uday Patel, honorary wildlife warden of Gadchiroli.

Talking to TOI, PCCF (wildlife) AK Misra, who is also member-secretary of the board, said, “The 210sqkm sanctuary proposal will need technical formalities to be completed before a final notification is to be issued. The board also decided to expand Umred-Karhandla Wildlife Sanctuary and Bor Tiger Reserve by relocating three villages each from these PAs. These villages themselves are keen on getting shifted.”

Earlier proposal for Kanhargaon was for over 400 sqkm. It was curtailed to 265 sqkm following opposition and now it has been brought down to 210sqkm keeping all villages, except Kanhargaon, out.

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