This story is from June 6, 2016

Illegal road being laid through Krishna Wildlife Sanctuary

Illegal road being laid through Krishna Wildlife Sanctuary
VISAKHAPATNAM: A road is being laid through the Krishna wildlife sanctuary in Krishna district in violation of the forest and environment norms. Ironically, the violation comes even as the World Environment Day was observed on Sunday by holding awareness rallies, talks and seminars to emphasise the need to protect the flora and fauna.
lovers see red over the government's ongoing construction of about a 2.5 kilometre road through the ecologically sensitive region of Krishna wildlife sanctuary (KWS) for the upcoming Krishna Pushkarams.
The road violates the provisions of the Indian Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.
The pristine mangrove habitat of KWS located in the estuary of the Krishna river is one of the rare eco-regions in the world. It is the home to the endangered fishing cat and many endangered species such as the smooth-coated Indian Otter as well as innumerable migratory birds. The sanctuary is spread over 195 sq km in Krishna and Guntur districts.
An environment NGO Eastern Ghats Wildlife Society (EGWS) is also taking the matter to the National Green Tribunal through an online petition campaign petition and is ready to approach the Supreme Court of India to protect the fragile mangrove eco system of KWS.
Wildlife conservationist and president of Eastern Ghats Wildlife Society (EGWS) Kantimahanti Murthy pointed out, "The sanctuary falls under the purview of Avanigedda Forest Range in the Wildlife Management Wing of Eluru. A 2.5 kilometre long tar road is being laid illegally near Hamsaladeevi area by the panchayat raj department with full support from higher officials of the district administration. The authorities allegedly say that this road will be used by pilgrims for the upcoming Krishna Pushkaras in August - a religious ritual where people take holy dip in the river mouth. This is a clear violation of Indian Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 and the Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) Rules."

According to conservationists, laying a pucca road inside the core area of the sanctuary defeats the purpose of minimising human interference with the elusive Fishing Cat and will cause disturbance to other wildlife too. "The construction of a road inside a wildlife sanctuary needs green clearance from the National Wildlife Board and the forest department of Andhra Pradesh. Despite the efforts of the state forest department to stop the unlawful activity, the panchayat raj department continues to lay the road with complete disregard to the irreversible damage caused to the wetlands, which are prime habitat for the Fishing Cat. The cat species is also protected under Schedule-I of the Indian Wildlife Act on par with the Bengal Tiger. We appeal to the Supreme Court of India to urgently address the issue and take immediate measures so as to ensure the protection of an endangered species and it's rapidly depleting wetlands," averred the wildlife conservationist.
When the forest department was asked about the issue, they admitted to the ongoing construction activity. Two senior officials from the divisional forest office of Vijayawada and Eluru, who didn't wish to be named, informed, "The district administration is continuing with a 2.5 kilometre pucca road for the pushkarams as well as for tourists. We were told by the district administration that they have taken permission from our head office. But when we enquired with the forest department head office, we found that no official permission was given to them and this construction is in violation of Indian Wildlife Protection Act, 1972."
author
About the Author
Sulogna Mehta

Sulogna Mehta is a principal correspondent with The Times of India in Visakhapatnam. She handles beats such as Medical and Health, Tourism, Women and child welfare and communities. She has a liking for medical and health related stories. She has interest in creative writing. Her hobby is travelling.

End of Article
FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA