Report on

Mitigation Measures for road projects cutting through Tiger corridors in the Eastern
Vidarbha Landscape

A news item titled “String of new road projects in Maharashtra to cut off tiger corridors” was published in
The Times of India daily on 29th November, 2018. (see copy of the news item as Annexure I). News
highlighted that East Vidarbha Landscape has presence of at least 200 tigers of which 60% are in Tadoba-
Andhari Tiger Reserve and adjoining areas. It was mentioned in the news that several roads coming up for
resurfacing/upgradation through corridor areas will make dispersal of wildlife a huge problem. Hampered
movement of wildlife by increased traffic volume will also cause surge in human wildlife conflict bringing
humans in direct contact with large predators such as Tigers, Leopards and Sloth Bears. It was also
mentioned that as per World Bank Report “Linear Infrastructure often fragments wildlife habitat and could
be single biggest threat to low density and wide-ranging species such as tiger”.

Taking sua moto cognisance of this news item Hon’ble National Green Tribunal initiated proceedings through
Original Application No. 1030/2018 (Annexure-II) dated 20/12/2019. Hon’ble Court opined that the road
projects which disturb tiger corridor may need to be reviewed. Hon’ble Court ordered Principal Chief
Conservator of Forest (Wildlife), Maharashtra to hold the joint committee meeting of Ministry of Road,
Transport and Highway, Government of India, National Highway Authority of India, Public Works
Department, State of Maharashtra, State Forest Department and Director, Project Tiger/NTCA, MoEF & CC
and furnish the report on action taken.

Accordingly, Maharashtra Forest Department constituted committee and subsequently PCCF & HoFF,
Maharashtra submitted report on 28/02/2019 (Annexure III). However, concurrence of NTCA was not taken
before submission of report as it was decided in the joint committee meeting (see minutes of the joint
committee meeting as Annexure-IV).

Hon’ble Court through order dated 26/03/2019 expressed displeasure about report as it was not upto the
expectations and report did not advance the purpose of protection of environment and wildlife and avoiding
wildlife conflict in the tiger corridors. Therefore, Hon’ble Court directed Additional Director General
(Wildlife) MoEF & CC along with Director, Project Tiger to prepare action plan in the matter and to oversee
execution and furnish action taken report.

Accordingly, MoEF & CC constituted a team vide NTCA, New Delhi Office Memorandum No. F. No. 12-
1/2009-NTCA (Vol. II) dated 15/04/2019 (Annexure-V) to cause site appraisal and submit the report as per
following terms of reference.

 Identification of animal crossing points/spatial locations as per delineated tiger corridors.

 Prescribing the mitigation structures including their designs/dimensions and special positioning as
per WII technical document viz “Eco friendly measures to mitigate impacts of linear infrastructure,
2016”.
 Assessment of cost estimate of the proposed mitigation measures.

Following members were nominated in the team

1. Kamdi Hemant Bhaskar, AIGF, NTCA, Regional Office, Nagpur

2. Dr. Bilal Habib, Scientist E, WII, Dehradun
3. Shri N. R. Praveen, Field Director, TATR, Chandrapur, CWLW Representative
4. Shri Chandrashekhar, Regional Officer, Nagpur, NHAI Representative
 5. Shri Theng, Superintendent Engineer, PWD, Nagpur, for NH section
6. Mrs. Sakharwade, Superintendent Engineer, PWD, Chandrapur, for MSH section

Team convened meeting on 22nd April, 2019 at Field Director’s Office, Chandrapur (Attendance sheet is at
Annexure-VI).

Review of the roads mentioned in the news item vis-a-vis their nomenclature and construction stage was
assessed from PWD and NHAI which is given below.

Sr. Nomenclature as per Status of road

Name of road as per news item
No. PWD/NH upgradation/resurfacing
1 Nagbhid-Bramhapuri-Armori NH353 D Advance construction stage
2 Malewada-Chimur NH353 E Advance construction stage
3 Chimur-Warora NH353 E Work under progress
4 Mul-Chandrapur NH 930 Work under progress
5 Bamni-Navegaon NH 353 B Work under progress
6 Gadchiroli-Mul NH 930 Work under progress
MSH 314 (Principally
7 Chimur-Kanpa Under planning/DPR stage
declared as NH)
Hinganghat-Nandori-Kora-Khadsangi- MSH 322 (Principally
8 Under planning/DPR stage
Neri-Pendhri-Sindewahi-Mul declared as NH)
9 Nagbhid-Mul MSH 9 Work under progress

It was decided in the meeting that identification of the animal crossing zones and prescribing mitigation
structures will be done by NTCA, WII and CWLWs representative where as the assessment of the cost will be
done by NHAI and State PWD representatives. Accordingly, report is prepared as per terms of reference.

A. Identification of animal crossing points/spatial locations as per delineated tiger corridors

Tadoba landscape has high density of tigers inside tiger reserve as well as outside. There are numerous
places where tigers cross occasionally. Therefore, to prioritize resources, it was decided to follow corridors
as delineated in
 Adjoining Area Plan as a part of Tiger Conservation Plan prepared vide article 38 O (3) (b) of the all
concerned Tiger Reserves and approved by this authority under section 38 O (1) (a) of Wildlife
Protection Act 1972. (TCP Corridors)
 NTCA/WII report on “CONNECTING TIGER POPULATIONS FOR LONG-TERM CONSERVATION” meant
for guiding conservation inputs in consonance with the development agenda of the country as per
article 38 O (1) (g) of Wildlife Protection Act 1972. (Least Cost Pathways/LCP)
 Corridor Atlas for Eastern Vidarbha Landscape prepared by Wildlife Institute of India for Govt. of
Maharashtra. (EVL Corridors)

Delineation of corridors by WII/NTCA/ MFD is based on long term research taking into account the structural
and functional connectivity. However, there are chances that animals might use some other areas also for
crossing. The identifications of present crossing zones are based on best science and knowledge available.
Sightings of the animal crossing may improvise the knowledge about corridors in future.

As there was no realignment, it was agreed by all to follow Google Map alignment of the roads for the
purpose of preparing mitigation plan. Accordingly, a map was prepared to decide animal crossings using
above mentioned corridor and road layer in GIS domain (Annexure-VII).
 B. Prescribing the mitigation structures including their designs/dimensions and special positioning as
per WII technical document viz “Eco friendly measures to mitigate impacts of linear infrastructure,
2016”.
and
C. Assessment of cost estimate of the proposed mitigation measures.

Roads in discussion are existing and has significant traffic with no option for realignment. Therefore,
principle of avoidance, restoration and compensation is not available. Only option to mitigate the existing or
future barrier is available considering tiger as most extinction prone taxa and charismatic as well as umbrella
species. Based on the crossing zones identifies following are the mitigation measures suggested to
enhance/maintain permeability of landscape for wildlife for long term conservation and to reduce human
wildlife conflict.

1. Following underpasses are suggested to be constructed by user agency having pillar type piers and
clear height of 5 meters from ground level of the adjoining forest area.
Sr No Road Patch Proposed Remark
Number Approx Approx Coordinates Corridor Underpass
length (DD MM SS.SS) Crossings
Start end
1 Nagbhir-Armori Patch I 2 km 20 36 01.42 20 36 15.72 EVL Corridor One 300 m This patch has agriculture area
79 47 25.02 79 48 48.53 TCP Corridor One 150 m towards north from the midpoint
therefore reducing the effective
structural and functional connectivity.
Patch II 3 km 20 30 24.18 20 28 55.22 TCP Corridor Not proposed This is a non-forested patch of
79 56 11.36 79 57 10.69 LCP corridor overlapping with the major
bridge on Wainganga river hence
underpass is not proposed.
2 Malewada-Chimur --- --- --- --- None Not proposed Corridor here is aligned parallel to
road. Road doesn’t cross corridor.
Therefore, underpass is not proposed.
3 Chimur-Warora Patch I 1.5 km 20 30 29.6 20 30 19.4 TCP Corridor one 750 m This is pinch point of connectivity
79 18 26.5 79 17 38.28 EVL Corridor between Tdoba Andhari Tiger
Reserve and Umred Karhandla Pauni
Wildlife Sanctuary.
4 Mul-Chandrapur Patch I 12.5 km 20 03 03.24 20 01 23.63 TCP Corridor four 300 m Road in this patch is passing through
79 39 10.28 79 32 47.59 EVL Corridor forest. But strength of the
connectivity is weakened by
agriculture and urbanisation as one
move away from TATR.
Patch II 16 km 20 0 3.38 19 58 36.14 TCP Corridor two 750 m This patch has very strong
79 28 23.5 79 20 1.52 EVL Corridor between Chichpalli connectivity towards Indravati and
LCP to Ghantachowki Kawal Tiger Reserve. It also connects
TCP Corridor two 750 m to Kanhalgaon and Tipeshwar
EVL Corridor between Wildlife Sanctuary. Local dispersal of
LCP Ghantachowki to tigers towards Chandrapur and
Lohara Central Chanda Division as well as
TCP Corridor two 300 m FDCM areas as well as Gadchiroli also
EVL Corridor between Lohara to happens through this patch.
Chandrapur
5 Bamni-Navegaon Patch I 1.5 km 19 49 49.82 19 49 16.67 TCP Corridor one 300 m There is stepping stone connectivity
79 24 43.02 79 25 21.12 EVL Corridor towards Tipeshwar and Kawal
through discontinuous forest blocks.

Patch II 12.5 km 19 47 26.4 19 45 34.4 TCP Corridor two 750 m This is part of the proposed
79 30 13.1 79 36 42.1 EVL Corridor between Kothari to Kanhalgaon Wildlife Sanctuary
 LCP Ganpur approved by State Board of Wildlife.
TCP Corridor two 750 m (See map at annexure VIII). This is a
EVL Corridor between Ganpur to continuous patch to the Patch II of
Aksapur Mul-Chandrapur road. This has very
high significance for dispersal and
distribution of Tigers.
6 Gadchiroli-Mul Patch I Fragmen 20 06 51.32 20 06 50.4 EVL Corridor one 30 m Road in this patch is passing through
ted 79 20 42.81 79 50 30.58 degraded forest fragmented into
and smaller patches. Also, strength of the
discontin connectivity is weaned by agriculture
uous and urbanisation.
7 Chimur-Kanpa --- --- --- --- None Not proposed Corridor here are aligned parallel to
road. Road doesn’t cross corridor.
Therefore, underpass is not proposed.
8 Hinganghat-Mul Patch I overlaps with Patch I of Chimur-Warora road Significance and recommendations
are same as that of Patch I of Chimur-
Warora road
Patch II 1.6 km 20 23 56.36 20 23 40.27 TCP Corridor one 750 m This patch connects TATR with
79 32 11.6 79 33 01.52 EVL Corridor Ghodazari Wildlife Sanctuary.
Patch III 2.14 km 20 15 00.2 20 14 05.81 TCP Corridor one 300 m These patche converge together and
79 39 37.48 79 39 57.9 EVL Corridor between further diverge to connect
Murmadi to Bramhapuri division and Gadchiroli
Saradpar circle, Ghodazari and Kanhalgaon
Patch IV 1.7 km 20 07 6.16 20 06 11.38 LCP one 300 m WLS, Navegaon Nagzira and Indravati
79 41 50.56 79 42 3.34 TCP Corridor Tiger Reserve. However, agriculture
EVL Corridor and villages are reducing the effective
structural and functional width.
Patch V 1.2 km 20 05 48.1 20 05 11.15 TCP Corridor two 30 m This small extension of Patch IV
79 42 02.8 79 42 03.65 above.
9 Nagbhir-Mul Patch I 3.7 km 20 32 37.40 20 30 38.12 TCP Corridor one 750 m This patch has connectivity between
79 40 56.28 79 40 50.1 EVL Corridor one 300 m Ghodazari WLS and Bramhapuri
Forest Division and further merges
with Gadchiroli, Indravati, NNTR. This
has very high tiger dispersal value.
Other patches overlap with Patch III, IV and V of Hinganghat-Mul road
 Exact locations of the underpasses will be decided based on available tiger distribution and dispersal studies
through tiger collaring as well as camera trapping and after sign survey by Forest Department. User agency
may carry minor modifications in the underpasses on written suggestion of State Forest Department.
Underpasses will also have integrated options of light and sound barriers, camouflaging and landscaping
including restoration habitat beneath underpasses after construction. There will not be right of passage to
public via underpass.

2. To avoid frequent repairs and disturbances, carriageway pavement inside forest area should be rigid having
well planned road side drainage and utility ducts.
3. User agency will make provision of vegetative or mechanical canopy closure option for movement of
arboreal wildlife and pipe/ cc culvert for movement of reptiles, amphibians, rodents, etc (both at every 100
meters of the forest patch not covered through clear opening of underpasses).
4. User agency will install overhead signboard at every 500 meter in the forest area about animal crossing,
restriction on feeding animal, garbage dumping, parking, honking, etc as per the advice of Forest
department.
5. There should not be felling of trees. All trees (in a girth class for which there is technology available for
transplantation) will be transplanted by user agency with adequate care for maximization of survival.
6. On-site engineering options will not mitigate the problems in totality due to roads. Therefore, user agency
should keep a lump-sum amount of 5% of project cost as corpus with Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve
Foundation to meet the recurring cost and unforeseen expenditure to mitigate certain adverse impacts of
road and to maintain corridor connectivity and meta-population dynamics, rescue of road accident animals,
encroachment eviction, removal of invasive species, waste disposal, strengthening protection, habitat
improvement, waterhole development, private land procurement within corridor, silvi-horti based land use
promotion in private area within corridor, need based fencing of area between two underpasses, etc. for
area impacted.
7. Monitoring committee shall be constituted under chairmanship of concern Chief Conservator of Forests or
equivalent officer having representation from user agency. Committee shall submit monthly report to the
Chief Wildlife Warden on progress of work and compliance of the conditions laid out under this report as
well as other if any.
8. Completion Certificate will be issued by user agency to the contractor after written certification from
Chairman of Monitoring Committee countersigned by Chief Wildlife Warden that the all the conditions are
satisfactorily complied.
9. Post completion monitoring and maintenance of mitigation structure will be done jointly on advice of forest
department and at cost of user agency.
10. Other conditions put by appropriate authorities/legislation shall also be complied.