MUMBAI: The Bombay high court has now come to the rescue of Koyna Wildlife Sanctuary, which forms part of the only tiger reserve in western Maharashtra.
Hearing a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) about illegal felling of trees and setting up of unauthorized windmills and resorts in the sanctuary, the court earlier this month issued notice to the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) after allowing it to be added as a party. The court also extended its deadline for the state government to submit its report on the sanctuary by February 22, 2011.
The high court, in October 2010, had directed the state not to allow new windmills or new structures, including resorts in the sanctuary. The authorities were also asked to consider issuing eviction notices to persons who have constructed unauthorized structures inside the sanctuary.
Koyna Wildlife Sanctuary and its neighbouring Chandoli National Park together form the Sahyadri Tiger Reserve, the first tiger reserve western Maharashtra created in January 2010. The reserve, spread over 741 sq km, is home to nine tigers and 66 leopards, besides other birds and wild animals and even a unique species of toad-Bufo koyanansis.
The other three tiger reserves in the state are all in Vidarbha-Melghat, Tadoba and Pench (see box).
The PIL was filed by Satara resident Nana Khamkar, who alleged that state was illegally permitting windmills to be set up and trees to be felled inside the sanctuary. Khamkar relied on information provided under the Right to Information (RTI) Act by the range forest officer (wildlife), Koyna, who stated that around 550 trees were felled in a three-hectare area in the sanctuary.
Further, around 215 windmills and 10 resorts have come up in the sanctuary without any permission from Indian Wildlife Board.
The RTI reply also mentioned that offences were registered against 159 windmills way back in 2001-02 and inquiry was still on.
Khamkar pointed out that the authorities were also trying to have Koyna Wildlife Sanctuary declared as a Unesco Heritage site and the presence of windmills, resorts and encroachments would affect its bid.
The high court in October had asked the chief secretary to hear the petitioners and other parties in the case and submit a report to the court.
The judges had directed the state to ensure that necessary police protection was given to the range forest officer to carry out the high court's orders.
The high court has scheduled further hearing of the case on February 24, 2011.
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