The Forest Advisory Committee (FAC) of the Union Environment Ministry has put on hold the Odisha Mining Corporation’s (OMC) proposal seeking diversion of dense forest land in the State’s Keonjhar district after it found that the land in question is proposed to be a tiger corridor connecting two tiger reserves — Similipal and Satkosia.

The FAC recommends clearances for projects on forest lands.

In a meeting, the FAC noted the forest area that the OMC wants to be diverted is of pristine nature with over 2,72,535 trees and is also the proposed tiger corridor interlinking Similipal Tiger and Satkosia Tiger Reserves which is crucial for long-term conservation tigers and wildlife in the country.

Out of 846.3995 hectares forest land, the OMC sought diversion of 746.3325 ha.

As per the minutes of the meeting, those opposing the mining project told the FAC that the forest spread across Jajpur and Keonjhar districts is home to dry deciduous Sal forests and has been identified as an inviolate forest or no-go zone area mining projects.

The wildlife officers also brought to the notice of the FAC that the last tiger in these forests was seen in 1997.

The National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) has identified the patch as a tiger corridor which is crucial to connect source populations from different protected areas for genetic exchange and for dispersal of the wild cats.

Besides tigers, the FAC also noted the prevalence of other wildlife in the forests.

“It was observed that the said diversion proposal land is situated in a virgin, very dense, nearly undisturbed pristine forest having immense biodiversity value and is serving as a crucial tiger corridor interlinking Similipal Tiger Reserve and Satakosia Tiger Reserve, which is very near to the proposed diversion boundary and is a prized habitat of elephants and many species of very important wildlife, which is of grave concern and utmost importance,” said the FAC.

On the OMC’s contention that the best iron ore of the country is available under these pristine forests, the FAC said, “It is not prudent to go for mining in such a prestine forests without having full knowledge of the mineable reserve under already opened up area.”

The Forest Advisory Committee has now asked the Environment Ministry to conduct a study through ICFRE to ascertain the technical feasibility of the fact that how much quantity of ore material can be extracted from already opened up area without further expansion of the existing mining area.

The FAC has also asked the NTCA to give their view on tiger corridor to decide the fate of the OMC’s proposal.