dehradun

Updated: Jun 15, 2018 22:20 IST

The Wildlife Institute of India (WII) is going to submit a ‘feasibility’ project on Kandi Road that is proposed to pass through Corbett Tiger Reserve by September.

During State Board for Wildlife meet on Friday, VB Mathur, director WII gave a presentation on the progress of the dream project of the BJP-led Uttarakhand government.

The road was announced immediately after TS Rawat became chief minister last year. The road aims to connect Garhwal and Kumaon regions by minimising the distance by at least 82 km.

Mathur informed how wildlife experts have already begun its survey on the ground. A patch of nearly 50 km inside Corbett is being studied intensively so that the institute could suggest options for development work without disturbing the wildlife.

“Due to the monsoon, the survey work is being delayed. We will be able to submit the report on the feasibility of the road within four months,” Mathur told CM.

Having put nearly 250 camera traps in the 50 km patch inside the reserve, Mathur pressed on the need of conscious decision on the project.

He said how the identified route has reported heavy traffic of tigers and elephants. All these points have been closely identified. The 5-km north and south of the road have been studied.

The ministry of environment, forest and climate change (MoEFCC) with the help of WII had released a detailed report on ‘linear infrastructure management inside protected area’. Experts are stressing on making this a Green Road.

According to WII, the concept of green infrastructure involves, optimising road alignment based on multiple criteria decisions, use of structural and non-structural measures.

A few years ago, the alignment of the road was done twice by the public works department (PWD) Dugadda and in both the alignments; the road passes from outside Corbett. The Supreme Court had also approved this alignment that passes outside the reserve.

The government had also signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with National Building Construction Corporation (NBCC) for construction of the road.

National Green Tribunal (NGT) recently shot a show-cause notice to the government and others on their plan for the road.