Wardha MP Tadas lends support to Mahendri sanctuary proposal

Nagpur: At a time when getting political support for creating new protected areas is difficult, the proposed Mahendri wildlife sanctuary in Amravati district received a shot in the arm with Wardha MP Ramdas Tadas declaring support.
Talking to TOI on Thursday, Tadas said, “I have written to Maharashtra chief minister Uddhav Thackeray about Mahendri reserve forest, which falls in my constituency, to declare it as a sanctuary.”
Tadas said the issue was raised at state wildlife board meeting by members from the region on August 7.The sanctuary proposal is hanging fire for the last 20-25 years. “I support Mahendri sanctuary as it will go a long way in protecting precious wildlife in the forest area,” said Tadas.
Tadas said the forest had presence of tiger, leopard, sloth bear, sambar, deer, wild dogs, wild boar, fox and other animal species. If declared a sanctuary, these animals will be better protected and it will pave way for their safe passage to other forest areas.
“Mahendri is one of the potential areas that can be notified as a sanctuary to protect tigers and other wildlife species. Once notified, it will act as important corridor for tiger movement between Bor and Melghat tiger reserves,” said Tadas.
At the state wildlife board meeting, Thackeray has already directed to expedite the proposal. State’s chief wildlife warden Nitin H Kakodkar said, “We have asked CCF (Amravati) to submit the sanctuary proposal. We have not yet received it.”
Listing out the benefits of declaring the area as sanctuary, the BJP MP said, “Locals will benefit from eco-tourism by way of direct and indirect employment. People can set up home-stays for visitors. Villages like Shekhdari, Bhembdi, Pandhari, Eklavihir, and Wai on the fringes of the proposed sanctuary will benefit.”
Tadas said Shekhdari lake and water fall can be developed as additional tourist attraction by starting boating facilities. Locals can start food stalls and eateries generating employment. Mahendri is connected by road with Nagpur, Amravati, Wardha, Betul, Multai, Morshi and other towns.
“There are other lakes like Naghthana, Wai, Jamgaon Pandhari and Eklavihir which will be protected by way of soil conservation works if Mahendri sanctuary is notified,” said Tadas.
Tadas in his communication has also said once the sanctuary is declared, apart from eco-tourism, people can reap benefits of Dr Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Jan Van Scheme by getting solar fencing to farms, subsidised LPG kits etc.
The proposal was first mooted by Kishor Rithe’s Nature Conservation Society, Amravati (NCSA) in 1994-95. Since then the proposal was discussed several times in the state wildlife board (SWBL) meetings but no decision was taken.