7th May 2019

Development projects across the country continue to disturb natural habitats, ecosystems and wildlife, leaving areas vulnerable.

Tiger reserves and wildlife sanctuaries  are under threat along the upcoming 1,715-kilometres long Indo-Nepal Border Road that aims to connect 154 border outposts of Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB), India’s armed border force, across seven border districts (Pilibhit, Lakhimpur Kheri, Bahraich, Shravasti, Balrampur, Siddharthnagar and Maharajganj) in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh (U.P.). The two-lane strategic road, which is now under construction at different stretches, will largely run parallel to the borders connecting the outposts to boost their mobility in difficult terrain like hills, rivers and forests, while keeping vigil.

However, of the 574 kilometres of the Uttar Pradesh stretch of this ambitious project, 302 kilometres falls under forest land, two tiger reserves (Pilibhit, Dudhwa) and three wildlife sanctuaries (Suhelwa, Katarniaghat and Sohagi Barwa). While the state public works department (PWD) is laying the first phase of 237 kilometres in low lying areas, the state forest department has raised red flags over the second phase, opposing the passage of the road through the protected Terai region, which has rich habitats of diverse flora and fauna.

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