Mumbai : Wildlife Board Overturns Own Decision That Put Curbs On Widening In Core Area
Six months after it restricted the widening of the NH-17 Mumbai-Goa highway through the core of the Karnala Bird Sanctuary, the National Board of Wildlife (NBWL) has overturned its decision.
The NH-17 will be widened to four lanes from the current two lanes. The NBWL cleared the proposal in its 34th meet ing early this month on the grounds “that widening within the sanctuary will smoothen the traffic and reduce foul emissions from recurring traffic jams, which are harmful for birds and other wildlife“.
Last December, the NBWL had allowed widening of the highway but on the condition that it be restricted up to 1 km on both sides from the boundary of the sanctuary . There was to be no widening in the core area of the sanctuary . The sanctuary has a 10-km eco-sensitive zone around it. The NBWL had also restricted the speed in the sanctuary to 30 kmph.
The committee, in its December order, had directed setting up of speed breakers, barriers and channelization of traffic within the existing lanes of the road passing through the sanctuary to facilitate a smooth flow. The order further said there should be controlled movement of traffic in the sanctuary with proper signals on the boundaries of the sanctuary . The new order has done away with all the earlier restrictions and safeguards.
The NBWL, in its new order, recommended the project and directed that a team comprising a representative of Wildlife Institute of India, NHAI and chief wildlife warden of Maharashtra undertake a site visit, agree on feasible mitigation measures including those for reptiles, within and outside sanctuary along the 3.5 km stretch which will be widened in a month.
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