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dam-l Sanctuary or Dam?
Time is of the essence.
A dam across the Mahadayi river, on the border of Goa and Karnataka,
threatens a vital tiger habitat from which at least 15 tigers have been
reported. Prempting proposals to declare the entire area a sanctuary,
both state governments insist on going ahead with their plans (against
the wishes of Maharashtra!). They have asked the National Environmental
Engineering Research Institute (NEERI) to produce an environment impact
report on the project, but my experience with the many Committees set up
by government suggests that they will use the NEERI report only if it
supports the dam. If it opposes it, they will try to discredit NEERI!
A hopelessly unviable project, the dam is probably being promoted in
part so that the enormous timber revenues generated from the submergence
zone will enrich contractors and their paid collaborators in government.
Apart from tigers, the many limestone caves in the region are home to a
variety of bats, including the Wroughtons Freetailed Bat, said to be
found nowhere else in the world according to the Bombay Natural History
Society (BNHS). The latest issue of Sanctuary Magazine carries a full
report on this as well as the INDAL destruction of Radhanagari (how many
of you subscribe?!).
I guess we have yet another battle on our hands. When will this nation
get its act together to improve the efficiency of existing projects
instead of chasing the tails of new and destructive ones?
--
Bittu Sahgal,
Editor, Sanctuary Magazine,
602, Maker Chambers V,
Nariman Point,
Mumbai 400 021
Fax: 022-2874380
email:<bittu@giasbm01.vsnl.net.in
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