JCB near Bor sanctuary raises eyebrows Vijay Pinjarkar, TNN

NAGPUR: At a time when the 62 sq km Bor Wildlife Sanctuary, some 60km from Nagpur in Wardha district, is on the verge of becoming a tiger reserve, disturbance to wildlife due to the movement of heavy construction machinery close to the sanctuary has raised eyebrows.

On Sunday, Nagpur-based NK Nagpal, owner of private land outside the sanctuary, had deployed a JCB to level the land. Nagpal's seven-acre plot is situated in khasra number 52 and is a few metres away from the Bor entry gate. It is surrounded by rich forest on all sides and there is good presence of wildlife.

There is tiger movement in this area all round the year. Besides, three sub-adult tiger cubs, captured from Dhaba in Chandrapur district, have also been kept at Bor. The place where the cubs have been kept is close to the said land, said forest officials, adding that deployment of JCB is disturbing wildlife.

Nagpal also plans to dig a bore-well in the future, which may again create disturbance.

Bor officials apprehend that Nagpal is planning to come up with a resort under the guise of cultivation. Similar attempt to take up construction activity on the same land was opposed by the then chief conservator of forest (CCF), Nagpur Wildlife Circle, Nandkishore, two years ago. He had stopped the activity at that time.

However, Nagpal denies any plans to develop a resort in the area. "Even if I plan to construct a resort in future, prior permission of the wildlife department will be taken. It's a farm land since 1895 and I want to cultivate it. Wildlife officials are not allowing me to use the main road connecting the sanctuary," Nagpal complains.

He claims to have sought permission from Praveen Chouhan, deputy conservator of forests (DyCF), Wardha division, who says that the road belongs to the government and anyone can use it.

Chouhan told TOI, "It's true that I've issued a letter to Nagpal, but nowhere does it mention that he can take up any construction activity. No activity other than agriculture will be allowed. If the land owner wants, he can move the court or seek police help in case of a dispute."

Bor range forest officer (RFO) CS Reddy is reluctant to stop the work since it is on private land. "I'm looking into the ruling in the TN Godavarman vs Union of India case, which states that any area covered by forests and wildlife from all sides is a deemed forest," said Reddy.

The controversial land is virtually a forest, considering its wildlife richness. In 1997, original owner Shankararao Kirde had written to the forest department to acquire the land and pay him compensation. As the department failed to acquire the said land, it was sold.

Conservationists say even if it is private land any construction activity in future will prove disastrous for wildlife. The land was lying abandoned for long as there is hardly any crop yield due to damage by wild animals.

"We have asked Nagpal to sell the land as no construction will be permitted on the land," Reddy says.

In the latest estimation of tigers by the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA), there are 12 tigers in Bor and its landscape of 560 sq km. Any activity near the sanctuary will be detrimental for wildlife.

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