Thursday, 12 December 2024
Thursday, 12 December 2024
Tamil Nadu has sealed 38 resorts that had come up within the notified Segur elephant corridor in Nilgiris district, the government has informed Parliament.
The Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, in coordination with the state forest departments, have ground validated 150 elephant corridors across 15 range states in the country and informed the state governments/Union Territory administrations to take steps to protect and conserve the corridors, according to a Press Information Bureau release.
The elephant range states are Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Kerala, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, and West Bengal.
West Bengal has the highest number (26) of identified elephant corridors in India,
accounting for over 17 per cent of all the reported elephant corridors in the country.
The Wildlife Institute of India (WII) had studied the 150 elephant corridors across the country and submitted a report last year. As the government study pointed out, securing elephant corridors is an important strategy to conserve elephants and minimise human-elephant conflict.
The Telegraph Online analyses the WII report to outline the hurdles in the jumbos’ way in India.
Andhra Pradesh: Highways, high-tension power lines
In Andhra Pradesh, the two elephant corridors are in the Tri-Junction Corridorand Rayala Elephant Reserve.
The 28 km long and up to 5 km wide Tri-Junction corridor is the only route used by elephants dispersing from Karnataka and Tamil Nadu into southern Andhra Pradesh. Without this corridor, the elephants of southern Andhra Pradesh would occur as a small and isolated population.
The number of elephants in the area has increased in recent years.
The Bangalore-Chennai railway lines are listed as a major bottleneck for this corridor.
The Rayala Elephant Reserve is the corridor that the jumbos in Sri Venkateswara National
Park use to move from Koundinya Wildlife Sanctuary.
The Bangalore-Tirupati highway (NH4) has heavy vehicular movement with reported animal hits. Apart from that, the Kadapa-Chitoor Highway (NH40) runs through it as will the proposed Bangalore-Chennai Expressway.
There are also around 50 km of high-tension power lines in the corridor.
Arunachal Pradesh: Three of eight corridors impaired
In Arunachal Pradesh, there are eight elephant corridors: Pakke-Doimara at Dedzelling, Dulung-Subansiri, D’Ering- Mebo or Sigar Nallah, Pakke-Papum (Longka Nallah), Pakke-Papum Seijosa Nalla, Pakke Doimara at Tippi, Durpong-Doimukh at Khundakhuwa and D'ering-Mebo at Kongkul.
At D’Ering- Mebo or Sigar Nallah, which connects the Borgoli Range of D’ering Memorial Wildlife Sanctuary and Mebo Reserve Forest of Pasighat Forest Division and Dibang Forest Division on either side of the Siang river, an army base in the middle of the corridor is listed as a major bottleneck in the government study.
Elephant movement along this corridor has increased, the study notes, with increasing conflict with humans. The forest department has suggested extension of the biosphere zone up to the interstate border, restoration of degraded habitats and a policy on land under elephant corridor, and livelihood support to the conflict affected villages.
Elephant activity has also increased in the Pakke-Doimara corridor at Dedzelling, and there is an industrial estate at Tippi, 1 km from the corridor.
Three corridors in the state have been listed as impaired due to highways, human habitations and industrial areas coming up. These are Pakke-Doimara at Tippi, Durpong - Doimukh at Khundakhuwa and D'ering-Mebo at Kongkul.
Assam: National Highway 37 cuts through corridors
There are 10 elephant corridors in Assam: Deosur, Bogapani, Panbari, Kotha Buridehing, Kanchanjuri, Hatidandi, Haldhibari, Golai-Pawai, Kukurakata-Bagser at Amguri, and Charduar-Singri Hill.
National Highway 37 is listed as a bottleneck for the 4.4 km long and 2.9 km wide Deosur corridor, which connects the Burapahar Range of Kaziranga National Park to Porcupa Range of East Karbi Anglong forest division.
Elephant movement has decreased in the Bogapani corridor, where 1 km of National Highway 38 and a non-electrified railway track are listed as bottlenecks.
Similarly, jumbo movement has decreased along the Panbari corridor, which connects the elephant habitats of Kaziranga National Park with Karbi Anglong forest division through Panbari Reserve Forest.
The National Highway 37 is listed as a bottleneck and the forest department has suggested addressing human encroachment in the area and restrictions on land use change.
The same highway is listed as a bottleneck in the Kanchanjuri corridor, which connects the elephant habitats of Kaziranga National Park with Ruthepahar forest of East Karbi Anglong forest division towards the northeast and Bagser Reserve Forest of Nagaon forest division to the southwest.
Elephant movement has decreased along this corridor as well.
Elephant movement has increased along the Kotha Buridehing corridor. The forest department has suggested the corridor should have a legal entity, encroachments should be cleared and brick kilns should be moved.
The Haldhibari Corridor is the largest elephant corridor in Assam. It connects Kaziranga National Park in the north with North Karbi Anglong Wildlife Sanctuary and adjoining community forests of the Karbi Anglong Hills in the south. NH 37 also passes through this corridor, which is 8.13 km long and 2.46 km wide.
Poaching worry in Assam-Arunachal corridors
D’ering- Dibru Saikhowa and Kalapahar-Doigrung are two interstate corridors Assam and Arunachal Pradesh share.
The D’ering- Dibru Saikhowa corridor connects the D’ering Memorial Wildlife Sanctuary, Dibang Forest Division and Pasighat Forest Division (Arunachal Pradesh) with Dibru Saikhowa National Park (Assam) via forest patches of the Sadiya Forest Range of Doomdooma Forest Division.
The forest department has suggested prevention of encroachment and new settlements towards Assam.
In the Kalapahar-Doigrung corridor, the forest department has underlined proper demarcation of the corridor as urgently required and highlighted human encroachments. It has also suggested anti-poaching camps.
Bihar: Lone corridor needs upkeep
Jamui-Jhajha-Chakayi is the only elephant corridor in Bihar. The forest department has suggested data-driven proper identification of the corridor, habitat management enrichment and awareness programmes for local people.
Chhattisgarh: Lack of data highlights information gap
Chhattisgarh has nine elephant corridors: Charmar-Jingol, Nagdhara-Baraud, Hati-Kudmura, Chaal-Kartala, Korondha-Rupunga, Balco-Etma Nagar, Balco-Katghora, Khod-Rihand and Ghat Pendari-Pakni.
Charmar-Jingol is listed as an important corridor for elephants moving from Odisha to the interiors of Chhattisgarh, but there are no recommendations for it.
There are no recommendations or information available on linear infrastructure for the other corridors as well, which would seem to highlight a lack of data gathering in the state on elephants.
Jharkhand: Forest degradation, power lines
Jharkhand has 17 elephant corridors: Bhagabilla-Ratnasai, Jampani-Bhagabilla, Sangajata- Haldipokhar, Lepang-Dumuria, Ankua-Ambia, Raibera-Pulbaburu, Dalapani-Suklara, Dalma-Chandil, Dumariya-Nayagram, Silli-Angara, Bharno–Bero-Kara/Sisai-Karra, Dalma- Asanbani, Dalma-Rugai, Siyaljora-Dhobadhobin, Dalapani-Kankrajhor, Anjadbera-Bichaburu and Dumriya-Kundaluka and Murakanjia.
Of these 17, Dalapani-Kankrajhor is an interstate corridor shared by Jharkhand and West Bengal.
Elephant movement has decreased along the Ankua-Ambia corridor that links Saranda forest division to Dimbuli Reserve Forest in Kolhan range; the Raibera-Pulbaburu corridor linking Raibera of Kolhan forest division to Pulbaburu of Porahat forest division; and the Dalma-Chandil corridor in Seraikela forest division.
Elephant movement has also decreased in Dalma-Asanbani corridor between Dalma Wildlife West Range to Chandil Territorial Range, and the Dalma-Rugai corridor nearby. Human encroachments.
The Anjadbera-Bichaburu and Dumria-Kundaluka and Murakanjia corridors are listed as impaired. Because of degradation of forest cover and human encroachments.
High-tension power lines are listed as infrastructure running through elephant areas in Jharkhand.
Karnataka: Constructions, mines quarries
There are seven elephant corridors in Karnataka. Of these, two are interstate corridors - Begur-Brahmagiri (shared with Kerala) and Talamalai-Chamrajnagar-Talavadimudahalli, which is shared with Tami Nadu.
The five elephant corridors entirely in Karnataka are Kaniyanpura-Moyar, Edayarahalli-Doddasampige, Edayarahalli-Guthiyalathur, Talamalai-Chamrajnagar (Pununjur) and Karadikkal-Madeshwara.
In Kaniyanpura-Moyar, which connects Kaniyanpura Reserve Forest with Moyar Reserve Forest of Bandipur Tiger Reserve and is located on the inter-state boundary of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, emergence of resorts is listed as a bottleneck.
In most other corridors, the first department has suggested restrictions on construction activity, mining and stone quarries nearby.
Kerala: Roads, electric fences, mobile towers
Besides one interstate corridor (Nilambur Kovilakam- New Amarambalam) shared with Tamil Nadu, there are four elephant corridors in Kerala.
The four corridors are Kudrakote-Thirunelly, Kottiyur-Peria, Peria-Pannippad (Peria at Pakranthalam) and Nilambur-Appankappu.
In the Kudrakote-Thirunelli corridor, where elephant movement has increased, the forest department has suggested a check on vehicular movement and restriction on the nighttime movement on the Thetturoad-Thirunelly road.
In the Kottiyur-Peria corridor where elephant movement has decreased, the suggestions include establishment of elephant-specific overpass across Boystown-Kottiyur road, construction of underpass along the Thalasery- Mananthavady road at Peria, acquiring estates within forested areas and considering ban on the erection of electric fences.
Similar suggestions have been made for the Peria-Pannippad (Peria at Pakranthalam) corridor, where a mobile tower should also be moved, according to the first department.
In the Nilambur Kovilakam- New Amarambalam interstate corridor, suggestions include restriction on vehicular movement between 8pm and 6am.
Meghalaya: Two out of six corridors impaired
The six elephant corridors in Meghalaya are Rewak-Emangre, Nokrek-Emangre, Siju- Rewak, Balpakram-Baghmara, Ranggira-Nokrek and Saipung-Narpuh.
Of these, two are impaired: Saipung- Narpuh corridor that connects Saipung Reserve Forest and Narpuh Wildlife Sanctuary, and Ranggira-Nokrek corridor between Ranggira, Sanchangiri and Galwang Reserve Forest to Nokrek National Park. Establishment of North Eastern Hill University (NEHU) campus, Garo students union building, a fishery pond, the 2nd Police
Battalion lines and expansion of human settlements and horticultural crops are listed as bottlenecks for Ranggira-Nokrek.
In Saipung-Narpuh, an elephant was last seen in 2001.
Nagaland: Decreasing movement of elephants
Nagaland has seven elephant corridors: Geleki-Sitap, Abhaypur-Singphan, Hollongapar- Longtho, Daldali-Dimapur, Geleki-Tuli, Desoi-Changdang and Tirutilip-Longchem.
Of these, elephant movement has decreased in six. The lone exception is the Abhaypur- Singphan corridor that connects Singhpan Wildlife Sanctuary in Nagaland
with Abhaypur Reserve Forest in Assam across the Tiru river.
The forest department has suggested ecological restoration of the lost forest cover and awareness and sensitisation programmes for local residents.
Odisha leads in human-elephant conflicts
Odisha, which leads in human-elephant conflicts in India, has 14 corridors: Telkoi-Pallahada, Karo-Karampada, Deuli-Suliapada, Similipal-Hadagarh-Kuldiha, Maulabhanja-Jiridamali- Anantapur, Kanheijena- Anantapur, Nuagaon-Baruni, Buguda-Central RF, Tal-Kholgarh, Barapahad-Tarva- Kantamal, Kotagarh-Chandrapur, Karlapat-Urlandi, Badampahar-Dhobadhobin, and Badampahar-Karida East.
The last two are interstate corridors shared with Jharkhand and West Bengal, respectively.
Of these, eight have seen elephant movement decreasing and one has become impaired.
Suggestions for improvement for all the corridors are similar: Improving habitat, digging elephant-proof trenches to protect agricultural crop and prevent human-animal conflict, digging of waterholes and developing salt licks in elephant movement areas.
In the Karo-Karampada corridor, the Bolani mines of SAIL have been listed as a bottleneck.
Tamil Nadu: Resorts are a major roadblock
In Tamil Nadu, there are 15 elephant corridors. These are Srivilliputur-Saptur, Kallhatti – Sigur at Glencorin, Avarahalla at Sigur, Kalmalai-Singara and Avarahalla, Moyar-Avarahalla, Siluvaimedu-Kadamparai, Anamalai at Waterfalls estate, Sholayar dam (Vazhachal-Anaimalai via Sholayur), Topslip to Navamalai, Tantea (Vazhachal-Anaimalai via Ryan), Talamalai-Guttiyalattur, Mukurthi-Mudumalai, Anaikatti North-Anaikatti South, Anamalai at Punachi, Kallar at Gandhapalllayam (Jaccanaire Slope-Hulikal Durgam).
There are also three interstate corridors of which two (Thalli-Bilikal and Bilikal-Jawalagiri) are shared with Karnataka and one (Mudumalai-Nilambur via O’ Valley) with Kerala.
The Bandemuthappa temple in the Bilikkal state forest areas along with the road to the temple in Bannerghatta National Park in Karnataka are listed as major bottlenecks on the Bilikal-Jawalagiri corridor.
In the Thalli-Bilikal corridor, which connects Bannerghatta National Park of Karnataka with the
North Cauvery Wildlife Sanctuary of Tamil Nadu, suggestions include evicting encroachment, giving alternate revenue land near to the town areas for the patta (document) holders and habitat improvement works like removal of Invasive alien species, creation of waterholes and fodder plots inside the area.
In the Srivilliputtur-Saptur corridor – connecting Saptur Reserve Forest with Srivilliputhur Reserve Forest of the Srivilliputhur Grizzled Squirrel Sanctuary – increasing the width of the corridor and regulating tourism activities have been underlined. This corridor, the study said, is a very important corridor facilitating movement of elephants in the South Western Ghats landscape complex comprising Theni and Madurai forest divisions, Srivilliputtur Wildlife Sanctuary, Megamalai Wildlife Sanctuary and the Periyar Tiger Reserve in Kerala.
Regulating road work with “special attention towards use of JCB and construction of revetment walls by the highway department” and regulating the number and speed of vehicles have been suggested for Anaimalai at Waterfalls estate corridor. It links the Valparai and Pollachi Ranges of the Anaimalai Tiger Reserve.
Similarly, tourism regulation, encouraging LPG instead of wood as fuel, regulation of vehicular movement on State Highway 78 have been suggested for the Siluvaimedu-Kadamparai corridor, also in Anaimalai Tiger Reserve.
Tourism regulation features in the suggestions for most corridors in Tamil Nadu.
Uttarakhand: Highways, train lines
Uttarakhand has 10 elephant corridors: Kansrau-Barkote, Motichur-Gohri, Kansrau-Barkote, Chilla-Motichur, Rawasan-Sonanadhi (upper arm), Malani-Kota Kosi corridor, Chilkiya–Kota Kosi corridor near Sundarkhal, Fatehpur–Gadgadia (Nihal–Bhakra), Kilpura-Khatim and Gorai Tanda (Gola) corridors.
The Chilla-Motichur corridor was one of the critical corridors across India restored with support from NGOs during the last few decades. In this corridor connecting Motichur Range with Chilla Range of Rajaji Tiger Reserve across the Ganga through the Motichur river, settlement areas and an army ammunition dump are listed as bottlenecks.
Uttarakhand and Karnataka were the two states that did not send filled-in forms for the survey. Infrastructure in elephant habitats in Uttarakhand include highways and railway lines.
Uttar Pradesh: Human encroachments a major problem
There are eight corridors in Uttar Pradesh. These include five international corridors.
The 30 km long and 10 km wide Basanta corridor connects Dudhwa National Park in India to Bardia National Park in Nepal. The 20 km long and 3 km wide Laljhadi corridor connects Dudhwa to Shukhlaphanta National Park in Nepal. The 30 km long and 500 m wide Chhedia corridor connects Katerniaghat Wildlife Sanctuary in Bahraich with Bardia National Park in Nepal. The 20 km long and 10 km wide Khata corridor also connects the same forests.
There is also the 25 km long and 10 km wide Laggabagga-Tatarganj-Shukhlaphanta corridor that connects Pilibhit Tiger Reserve and Dudhwa Tiger Reserve in India to Shukhlaphanta National Park in Nepal.
Recommendations for all include cooperation with Nepal and building a flyover along the India-Nepal border road.
In the Dudhwa-Katerniaghat corridor that connects the Katerniaghat with Dudhwa, human habitations along the Mohana and Suheli rivers have been listed as the main bottleneck.
For the Rawasan-Sonanadi interstate corridor that connects Sonanadi Wildlife Sanctuary in UP to Rajaji Tiger Reserve in Uttarakhand, recommendations include an elevated bridge for the Meerut- Pauri highway, reducing train speed on the Najibabad-Kotdwar section, purchasing specific tracts of land in Shankurpur farm area and reducing the forest dependency of Gujjars.
Recommendations for the Shivalik interstate corridor that connects Rajaji Tiger Reserve to Kalesar National Park are similar.
West Bengal: Needed better streetlights, compensation
Bengal has the highest number of elephant corridors in India, 26. These corridors are: Titi- Dumchi-Reti, Titi-Reti, Kalikunda-Chandra through Manikpara, Nayagram-Jamboni through Keshorrekha, Chandabila Tapoban-Dhumsi through Keshorrekha, Kalaikunda-Chandra through Satpadi Ghat, Gidhni-Jamboni, Chandua-Joka, Kankrajhore-Lalgarh, Apalchand-Mahananda, Apalchand-Gorumara Corridor, Apalchand-Kalimpong at Mal block (via Meenglass), Apalchand- Kalimpong at Mal block (via Sylee), Nimati-Chilpata (Buxa-Chilpata), Buxa-Titi (via Beech and Bharnobari tea garden), Buxa-Titi (via Torsha), Buxa- Ripu at Sankosh, Mahananda- Kolabari- Tukriajhar, Mahilong-Kalimati, Jhalda-Baghmundi, Chapramari-Kalimpong, Moraghat–Central Daina, Reti–Central Daina, Chandil-Matha, Gobarghusi-Jhunjhaka-Banduan and Moraghat-reti.
Two (of these Chandil-Matha and Gobarghusi-Jhunjhaka) are interstate corridors shared with Jharkhand.
In most of these corridors, elephant movement has increased. The suggestions for most of the corridors are similar. They include Improvement of habitat in the corridor area, recruitment of frontline staff, wildlife squads and trackers, increase in the amount of compensation for crop or hut damage and providing streetlights for better visibility around the villages.
In the interstate corridors, trenches dug along the Bengal-Jharkhand border have been listed as a bottleneck.
