After opposing it in NGT, MoEF grants wildlife clearance for NH7 widening

After repeatedly submitting before National Green Tribunal (NGT) and through its letters to the Maharashtra government that a wildlife clearance was not required for widening National Highway (NH7), the environment ministry's national board for wildlife (NBWL) on Tuesday accorded wildlife clearance to the project.

Announcing the decision to give wildlife clearance to NH7, environment minister Prakash Javadekar said, "The process of four-laning NH7 has moved ahead. Mitigation measures have been agreed upon and clearance has been accorded on the basis of mitigation measures." The minister did not specify what exact mitigation measures have been agreed upon for smooth passage of tigers. But, dna has learnt from reliable sources that the ministry has agreed to build underpass totalling 2.2km in length, substantially reducing it from the original 5.5kms of underpasses that was recommended by Wildlife Institute of India.

The ministry's decision to take up wildlife clearance of NH7 widening goes against all submissions it has made in an on-going case in NGT. The petitioner in the case has argued that the project will adversely impact Kanha-Pench tiger corridor, one of the best in the country and will also lead to ecological damage due to felling of 20,000 trees.The widening and tree cutting will happen on a 37kms stretch between Mansar and Khawasa.

The ministry's counsel and NHAI counsel have consistently argued in NGT that wildlife clearance is not required as the project does not pass close to any protected areas. Whereas, the Wildlife Protection Act clearly states that in corridors which link two tiger reserves with each other it is essential to take the approval from the NBWL. In fact in a hearing last week, the NGT had rapped the ministry and National Highways Authority of India for the absence of a wildlife clearance. The ministry's decision on Tuesday seems to follow NGT's stern stand and its shaky legal grounds.

Okhla bird sanctuary eco-sensitive zone finalised

The NBWL meeting headed by Prakash Javadekar also finalized the eco-sensitive zone around the Okhla bird sanctuary, giving relief to thousands of home-buyers.

The decision bring relief to around 60,000 home-buyers in Noida whose homes have not received a completion certificate. Speaking on the decision, Javadekar said, "We have finalized the draft notification and the final notification will be brought out in one week. It is a relief for home buyers who have invested their savings." The Okhla bird sanctuary has an avian paradise with 400 species recorded at the site. The National Green Tribunal is hearing a matter on construction in the sanctuary's eco-sensitive zone and had ordered that completion certificates cannot be given to home within 10kms of the bird habitat.

The final eco-sensitive zone will stretch up to 100 metres on the eastern, western and southern boundary and up to 1.27km on the northern boundary of the sanctuary till the Delhi-Noida Direct Flyway across the river bed.