Labyrinth of canals cuts into tiger path

Vijay Pinjarkar, TNN Nov 5, 2011, 01.17AM IST NAGPUR: The canal network of irrigation projects has fragmented the continuity of wildlife and is sounding the death knell for tigers and wildlife in Central India. Following the Tass tragedy when a tigress was rescued from well adjacent to a canal, the Satpuda Foundation wrote to the state government highlighting the adverse impacts of canals on tiger corridors in Central India specially in Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh. The foundation works in Melghat region for the conservation of the wildcat. The projects sanctioned in the past few years, specially in and around tiger habitats and corridors like the Upper Wardha (Amravati), Bawanthadi (Nagpur-Bhandara-Balaghat-Seoni), Ghodazari (Bhandara) and Gosikhurd (Bhandara-Nagpur) have started creating adverse impacts on wildlife. Urgent steps are needed to save wild animals and for their best management. Bawanthadi: The Bawanthadi dam (Rajiv Sagar Interstate Irrigation Project) in Nagpur, Bhandara, Seoni and Balaghat districts of Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh, respectively, has hit tigers as some of its canals fall in corridor connecting Pench reserve and Nagzira sanctuary. Tiger habitat continuity between Pench (both in Maharashtra and MP) with Kanha reserve is through this forest belt in the north-west Balaghat forest. Statistics with the forest department say that the Bawanthadi project has actually destroyed 2,350 hectares of tiger forest and now its 100km canal is causing serious threats to wild animals in the tiger habitat. Monkeys climb down into the canal to drink water and are unable to come up. Forest department had even kept a ladder for them. "But what about other animals like gaurs, tigers and herbivores," asks Kishor Rithe, Satpuda Foundation chief. Forest officials said a joint committee to suggest mitigation measures has been set up for Bawanthadi. The works will be appropriately designed and technically approved by both the departments. Gosikhurd: The Gosikhurd project is under construction and encompasses good forest areas with rich vegetation and wildlife. However, the project has fragmented corridors. Of late, there have been frequent incidents of wild animals getting trapped in its canals. The irrigation and forest departments need to identify areas where passages (bridges with natural look) can be constructed on the canals for wild animals so that the corridors are not obstructed and they can move and migrate freely. However no action is being taken. Upper Wardha: The Upper Wardha project has also fragmented the corridor to Bor sanctuary in Wardha district. It has actually isolated the presence of gaurs in Bor. Ghodazari: The Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve (TATR) maintains a fragmented wildlife corridor with Navegaon National Park through the Bramhapuri forest division. However, man-animal conflict is high in this area. The canal network of Ghodazari project has already created a problem for the wildlife in the area. Itiadoh: Work on this project in Gondia district has been completed. However, the canal in the Zasinagar area fragments wildlife corridor of Navegaon. The forest and irrigation departments need to design mitigation measures for this. http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-11-05/nagpur/30363366_1_bawanthadi-project-canal-network-kanha