A drive in the fast lane on Nation Highway 6 is turning out to be a threat for wildlife. Stretches on this highway form a part of crucial wildlife and tiger corridor that connects the Nagzira Sanctuary and the Navegaon National Park in Maharashtra. Stretching it to four lanes has spelt disaster for the animals.
On either side of National Highway 6, are forests that play a crucial role in the tiger's habitat. In fact, the four-laning project of NH-6 has meant a lot of trees have been cut, and in many places it's already a 4-lane highway.
Under the Forest Conservation Act, cutting trees in protected areas requires permission from the Ministry of Environment and Forests.
To date, no sanction has been sought, but work on the highway is continuing at top speed.
And here's why: In a report submitted in 2008, the deputy conservator of forests has claimed that the highway project is beyond the 10 kilometres safe radius around parks and sanctuaries. But the fact is that the Nawegaon National Park's boundary is within two to three kilometres of the highway.
Violations such as these have only made matters worse in an area that is crucial for tiger survival.
"I have seen a sambhar and a cheetal crushed under a truck's tyres. The best way to deal with this problem right now is to build underpasses for wildlife. At least animals will have some space to cross over from one side to another without any trouble," said Mukund Dhurve from the Satpuda Foundation.
"We have always tried to balance wildlife and development needs. We are looking into the possibility of building underpasses for animals," said Brijeshwar Singh, Chairman, National Highway Authority of India.
Despite a report by the chief conservator of forests which demands a solution to the problem, little has been done on the ground. The matter has now gone to the Supreme Court. Meanwhile, for the animals, this has become yet another battle for survival.
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