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Bhopal's Tigers Threatened by Proposed Road Network
27 Oct
Summary
- Objection lodged against three proposed roads in Samardha forest division.
- Area is a vital tiger corridor connecting key wildlife reserves.
- Development risks habitat fragmentation and increased human-tiger encounters.
An objection has been formally submitted to the Madhya Pradesh town and country planning department concerning three proposed roads slated for the Samardha forest division in Bhopal. These routes are identified as impacting the Chandanpura-Mendora-Mendori landscape, a critical area for tiger breeding and movement.
The objection highlights that this landscape serves as a crucial corridor, connecting the Ratapani Tiger Reserve with Bhopal and the Kheoni Wildlife Sanctuary. The proposed roads, including alignments like Akbarpur-Chandanpura-Mendora/Mendori, are contested due to the rugged terrain, steep forest slopes, and proximity to the Kerwa reservoir.
Increased road construction and vehicular traffic could fragment wildlife habitats, disrupt tiger corridors, and elevate the risk of human-tiger encounters. The Samardha-Kerwa-Kaliasot forest belt hosts a rare urban wildlife scenario where tigers have coexisted with Bhopal's growth. Construction in cub-rearing areas may threaten this balance and conservation efforts.
Concerns have also been raised regarding the unclear status of revenue and deemed forests. The objector advocates for incorporating these forests into a protected wildlife buffer linked to the Ratapani Tiger Reserve, establishing a zero-construction buffer zone, and enhancing tiger monitoring.
