CEC directs Uttarakhand forest department to stop wall construction in Rajaji National Park

NEW DELHI: The Central Empowered Committee (CEC), constituted by the Supreme Court has directed the Uttarakhand forest department to stop any construction work that is in violation of the Wildlife Protection Act. The Uttarakhand irrigation department was constructing an RCC wall on the right bank of Song river to reportedly protect a village from flooding due to Song. But the wall’s location also happens to be in the Motichoor range in Rajaji National Park which is a corridor for movement of both elephants and tigers.

In a letter dated May 5, CEC demanded a response for all the concerns raised by wildlife activist, Rohit Choudhury in his complaint to the CEC. According to Rohit’s application, the wall proposed to be constructed is about 3 meters in height and almost 2 km in length. His application also says that the forest department seemed to have cleared the project and even suggested building of ramps for elephants to go across. After several complaints were sent to forest department against the construction of RCC wall inside the National Park, it constituted a committee to look into the matter consisting of CCF wildlife, an NGO, Wildlife Institute of India and director, Rajaji National Park.

“The principal chief conservator of forests (PCCF) again constituted a one member committee on March 3, 2014 Conservator of Forest as chairman. The committee after visiting the site on March 4, 2014 submitted its report on March 13. It approved the construction of the wall,” says his application. The forest department in fact reportedly said “construction of the wall will not only help in controlling floods but will also helps in movement of tigers between east and west part of Rajaji National Park. In their conclusion, the department had said it will “construct ramps as per requirement for the movement of elephants after marking the identified area,” and that “a wall will be constructed on northern and western side of the village to stop the elephants from entering the village.”