India should drop the idea of Ken Betwa Linking Project (KBLP) which will require felling of 2 to 4 million trees in the emerald forests of Panna national park . Think of the loss of this staggering number of trees in the backdrop of the unprecedented summers that the country experienced in the year 2024. Many parts of Bundelkhand where Panna is situated recorded 49 degrees Celsius while the mercury soared to 52.9 degrees C in Delhi, later corrected by the government to 50 degrees C (49.9). For a moment forget the loss of tiger habitat in the park, think over our own survival. Referring to the special morphological significance and unique biodiversity of Panna national park, the central empowered committee of the Supreme Court on the KBLP observed ," implementing this project would result in the complete breakdown of the evolutionary processes of millions of years." It warned of the widespread ecological devastation.River Ken is lifeline of the tiger reser
Two national parks of Central India forming one of the largest tiger corridors have been victims of India Railways’ apathy. The railways are adamant to lay a third track in Palamu tiger reserve and second in Sanjay Dubri national park ,part of Bandhavgarh-Sanjay Dubri –Guru Ghasidas and Palamu tiger landscape. It is spread over 25000 sq km with an estimated population of over 74 tigers. Many more Indian jungles including Melghat tiger reserve in Maharashtra, Gir in Gujarat and Rajaji national park in Uttarakhand where railway lines criss cross the core zones of the forests. Third Track in Palamu Will Ruin The Tiger Reserve The issue of railway tracks inside the core area of national park was highlighted again after death of a breeding tigress in Sanjay Dubri tiger reserve in Madhya Pradesh earlier in March this year orphaning her four cubs. One of them died a few days later. Railways are adamant to lay a second track in this park. Over three hundred kms away in Jharkhand