The National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) has raised concerns about the Morand-Ganjal Irrigation Project in Madhya Pradesh, warning that the construction of two dams on the Morand and Ganjal rivers will submerge forest areas used by tigers to travel between reserves. The NTCA has strongly recommended finding alternative locations for the project.
The project is intended to improve irrigation in Hoshangabad, Betul, Harda, and Khandwa districts. During a meeting on January 27, the Forest Advisory Committee (FAC) discussed a proposal to use 2,250.05 hectares of forest land for the project.
However, the NTCA pointed out that the area is a critical tiger corridor connecting the Satpura and Melghat Tiger Reserves. Losing this corridor could threaten tiger populations and other wildlife by disrupting their movement and genetic exchange, which is essential for their survival.
The NTCA's study, based on data from the 2022 National Tiger Estimation, emphasised that this area is important for tiger habitats. The project could also reverse recent recovery efforts in both Satpura and Melghat, where tiger numbers have been increasing after some villages were relocated.
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The NTCA urged the government to find less ecologically sensitive locations for such projects to protect wildlife habitats while meeting development needs.
It also recommended that compensatory afforestation plans be carefully reviewed, as several proposed areas for afforestation are already forested or contain settlements and agricultural land.
The project is expected to displace 644 families, including 604 tribal families, and affect over seven lakh trees, with 5.75 lakh trees marked for felling. The FAC has suggested that a sub-committee, including NTCA representatives and experts, inspect the site before any decisions are made.
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