HC Takes Cognisance Of Mining Threat To Tadoba

Nagpur: The Nagpur bench of Bombay High Court on Monday directed that a suo motu PIL be registered after news reports highlighted the approval of an iron ore mining project inside a wildlife corridor of Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve (TATR), raising concerns over the habitat of more than 60 tigers.A division bench of Justices Anil Kilor and Raj Wakode appointed Gopal Mishra as amicus curiae, directing that a formal petition be filed within two weeks, before Feb 16."The news articles highlight the decision of the govt of Maharashtra granting permission for iron mines in TATR by turning down the objection raised by the forest department. The issue is of public importance," the bench said.The reports stated that the proposed mine lay within the primary corridor connecting TATR with the Umred-Karhandla landscape and near the Ghodazari sanctuary as well as Brahmapuri forests, which are known for high tiger density and movement. About eight resident tigers were said to inhabit the immediate mining belt, while several well-known tigers, including one nicknamed "Bittu," were recorded on the same stretch.The approval was granted at the State Wildlife Board meeting on Jan 6, where objections raised by expert members were overruled. The proposal, pending for nearly seven years and earlier rejected multiple times, was cleared with certain mitigation measures and was forwarded to the National Wildlife Board for final consideration.The mining block, located around 15km from Lohadondri village in Bramhapuri taluka within compartment no. 439 of Kachepar reserve, spanned roughly 36ha of dense forest land. The block was auctioned in 2019 to a Nagpur-based steel company. Earlier, an expert committee advised against permitting mining, citing escalating human-wildlife conflict in the region.