State declares 29.53-sq-km area in Konkan a reserve
The state on Tuesday declared 29.53 square kilometre (sq km) area, comprising 10 villages in Dodamarg taluka, Sindhudurg district, as the Tillari Conservation Reserve. This is the first notified conservation reserve along the Konkan coast and the seventh in the state.
With this decision, a certain section of the Dodamarg-sawantwadi corridor, which has been under threat from mining, receives protection under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.
Conservation reserves are protected areas that act as buffer zones between established national parks, wildlife sanctuaries, reserved and protected forests of India.
The notification published on Tuesday by the revenue and forest department shows the area was protected based on the presence of tigers, elephants and leopards. “With this declaration, development activities are restricted, while mining is prohibited across 29.53 sq km areas, safeguarding the rich biodiversity. We will set up a committee to look after management and con- servation of the reserve,” said Nitin Kakodkar, principal chief conservator of forest (wildlife), Maharashtra.
According to the forest department, there are four resident tigers within the notified area. “The Tillari ecosystem has a breeding tiger population, and acts as a source population for the Sahyadri Tiger Reserve,” said V Clement Ben, chief conservator of forest, Kolhapur. A transient population of 25 tigers have been documented moving through the corridor over five years.
The 10 villages in Dodamarg taluka that form the reserve’s boundary include Bambarde, Ghatiwade, Kendre Bank, Kendre Khadi, Patiye, Shirange, Konal, Ainode, Hewale and Medhe. The entire Dodamarg taluka has 53 villages. Petitioners striving to protect the Dodamargsawantwadi corridor before the high court (HC) said the latest notification included eight of the 38 villages from Dodamarg taluka they sought protection for.
ELGAR PARISHAD CASE