Bhubaneswar: The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has directed the Odisha government to issue a notification for 14 elephant corridors within two months.
NGT’s Eastern Zonal bench issued the directive. The bench comprising judicial member B Amit Sthalekar and expert member Saibal Dasgupta was hearing a petition by wildlife conservationist Biswajit Mohanty on behalf of his NGO, Wildlife Society of Odisha.
Mohanty had said the principal chief conservator of forests (Wildlife) had submitted details of elephant corridors in Odisha to the State Forest and Environment Department on October 11, 2012. However, no action was taken under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 for the notification of 14 corridors spread over 870.61 sq kms, he added.
He also said the state had spent Rs 20 crore for improving the corridors, but there was no formal notification to secure them legally.
The ANCF, in its report, has stated that out of 14 corridors identified, 9 corridors need adequate development to ensure a safe habitat for the elephants.
These nine corridors are Nuagaon-Baruni in Angul district, Buguda-Central Reserve Forest in Naygarh district, Badampahar (Mayurbhanj)-Dhobadhobin (Jharkhand) inter-state under Karanjia and Rairangapur forest divisions in Mayurbhanj district, West Bengal-Deuli-Suliapada (passage) inter-state under Baripada forest division in Mayurbhanj district, Similipal-Hadagarh-Kuldiha inter-district under Baripada, Balasore and Keonjhar Wildlife Divisions, Telkoi-Pallahara inter-district under Keonjhar and Deogarh forest divisions, Karo (Keonjhar)-Karampada (Saranda, Jharkhand) inter-state under Keonjhar forest division, Maulabhanja Jiridamali- Anantapur inter-district under Dhenkanal forest division, Barpahad-Tarava-Kantamal inter-district under Sonepur forest division, Kotagarh-Chandrapur inter-district under Baliguda (Kandhamal) and Rayagada forest divisions and Karlapat-Urladani inter-district under Kalahandi (south), Kalahandi (north) and Rayagada forest divisions.
The ANCF report also states that going by the forest areas in Odisha, around 1700-1800 elephants can safely reside in the state.
Out of a total of 1977 elephants in Odisha, 969 are found in the Mayurbhanj elephant reserve (7043.74 sq km), Sambalpur elephant reserve (426.91 sq km) and Mahanadi elephant reserve (1038.30 sq km).
The ANCF has suggested the extension of the elephant reserve area in Sambalpur to 2240 sq km and the Mahanadi elephant reserve to 2493 sq km so that about 1500 elephants can safely stay in these two reserves.
Apart from this, to feed the elephants, it has suggested massive plantation of trees and create adequate water bodies.
Besides, for the safe movement of the elephants, ANCF has suggested the construction of underpass and overpass on NH-55 in Sambalpur, Redhakhol, Angul, Dhenkanal and Cuttack and railway underpass and overpass between Angul and Sambalpur.
Also Read: Odisha No More A Safe Haven For Elephants!
