Wildlife Institute of India to study highway impact on Kalesar National Park in Haryana

Gurgaon: Wildlife Institute of India (WII) will conduct a six-month study to identify wildlife movement patterns and optimal animal crossing locations for the proposed four-lane expansion of NH-907 through the ecologically sensitive Kalesar National Park and Wildlife Sanctuary — which is a protected area in the Yamunanagar district of Haryana.

The study — costing Rs 19.7 lakh and funded by National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) — will also assess the feasibility of constructing an elevated highway through the park to minimise habitat disturbance.

On May 5, the Haryana forest department had proposed a WII study and on May 8, the WII accepted the same. This move follows a National Green Tribunal (NGT) order in Jan mandating ecological safeguards for the project following a plea filed by Gaurav Kumar Bansal, an advocate.

Bansal told TOI, "The study's outcomes will be pivotal in balancing infrastructure development with conservation in one of north India's most ecologically fragile zones. "Construction of this new NH intersects the Kalesar Wildlife Sanctuary, which is a protected area and has immense ecological significance. Eco-friendly measures to mitigate the adverse effect of the construction of the NH are required to be taken,"

In January, the tribunal had directed the chief wildlife warden to evaluate mitigation proposals, including input from the State Biodiversity Board.

"We are of the view that the chief wildlife warden, Haryana, must examine the issue relating to the protection of local biodiversity and the mitigation measures, if any, which are required to be adopted," the order on Jan 29 said. The plea was disposed of by chairperson Prakash Shrivastava along with expert member A Senthil Vel.

On May 8, IFS director, WII (Dehradun), Virendra R Tiwari, wrote back to the chief wildlife warden (Haryana), "We would complete the mitigation planning within six months after the release of the funds. The overall estimate to conduct the said study is Rs 19.7 lakh." This was in response to a letter written by chief wildlife warden (Haryana) Vivek Saxena on May 5 that said, "Haryana wildlife department intends to undertake a comprehensive study through WII on wildlife movement and the identification of suitable locations for animal crossings along the proposed project alignment."

Saxena said, "The possibility of an elevated highway throughout the Kalesar National Park may be explored without disturbing habitat, along with the formulation of eco-friendly mitigation measures. The budgetary requirements for conducting this study will be borne by NHAI." Kalesar forms part of the Terai Arc Landscape, a vital tiger and elephant corridor between Rajaji and Simbalbara national parks.