Forest Department to clear 215 acres of Wildlife Reserve Land for Jolly Grant Airport

Dehradhun: Uttarakhand forest department has decided to clear 215 acres of land of Shivalik Elephant Reserve for the expansion of Doon’s Jolly Grant airport. The reserve is one of the premier elephant reserves in the country and lead to deforestation of about 10000 trees.

The transfer of reserves land shows that a total of 9,745 trees (including precious species like khair (3405), seasam (2135), sagon (185) and gulmohar (120) and other 25 other species of trees are proposed to be cut to increase the airport base. It will also shrink in the area for elephant movement.

Accordingnto conservationists, it is going to be devastating for the fragile ecosystem of Doon valley since the forest is home to not just elephants but also leopards, cheetal, sambhar and several other wildlife species.

The area initiated for the expansion of airport falls in arena of 10-km radius of the Rajaji National Park Eco Sensitive Zone and notified elephant corridors are also located within just a 3-km radius of the proposed area. According to media reports, there is a regular movement of wild animals especially elephants, leading to man-animal conflict affecting humans as well as wild animals.

Gauri Maulekhi, member secretary of the Uttarakhand chapter of the NGO, People for Animals, said, “Forests and wildlife are the unique selling proposition of Uttarakhand’s tourism and employment. To preserve it must be the sacrosanct duty of the government but it is highly unfortunate that they are doing the opposite. The loss of 215 acres of Shivalik Elephant Reserve will start a vicious cycle which will end in doom for the state. Loss of habitat will mean more loss of forest and thereby, further human-wildlife conflict.”

Meanwhile DFO of Dehradun, Rajiv Dhiman said, “clearance for the proposal was given in the state wildlife board meeting and a wildlife mitigation plan has also been submitted to the chief wildlife warden for clearance. Currently waiting for center’s approval”.

Doon valley will also be soon losing 2500 British-era sal trees to facilitate a 4-km-stretch of the Delhi-Dehradun expressway. It also comes in the wake of rising man-elephant conflict due to shrinkage in space for elephant movement.