In an effort to preserve wildlife habitat along the now under-construction Nagpur-Mumbai Maharashtra Samruddhi Mahamarg (MSM), the State-run Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Dehradun-based Wildlife Institute of India (WII).
Under this MOU, the WII will undertake a study of wildlife habitats, through which the MSM passes, as part of the MSRDC's initiative to protect wildlife. Apart from making recommendations to the MSRDC through a report, the WII will guide the State undertaking on the steps required for protecting wildlife habitats.
After construction of the Nagpur Mumbai Super Communication Express way (NMSCEW), the MSRDC plans to ensure that there is free movement for wild animals in their habitats. “When the construction of expressway is complete, proper care will be taken so that there is no threat to the wildlife,” a MSRDC spokesperson said.
The WII, which comes under the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF), will partner with the MSRDC till the completion of the Maharashtra Samrudhi Mahamarg. This is for the first time in the country that any infrastructure development project will focus on wildlife conservation work.
“MSRDC is sensitive towards the issue of conserving wildlife and committed to maintain their habitat. We are determined that Maharashtra Samruddhi Mahamarg will serve as a model project for the protection of wildlife. Therefore, we are extremely keen to develop the interest of wildlife in the sanctuaries falling along the expressway,” MSRDC’s Vice Chairman and Managing Director, Radheshyam Mopalwar said.
According to Mopalwar, development of infrastructure projects involves a thorough study of the social and environmental impacts. “Proper care needs to be taken to maintain environmental balance. As part of the exercise, we will address the effect of the project on wildlife habitats along the Nagpur-Mumbai expressway,” he said.
Two wildlife sanctuaries fall within 26 talukas and 390 villages that will be connected through NMSCEW, also known as MSM, a project that will three major cities of Nagpur, Aurangabad and Mumbai. “Many wildlife habitats are in these sanctuaries. We are taking the assistance from the Wildlife Institute of India to see to it that the wildlife does not suffer from vehicular traffic and pose any problem due to construction of the expressway,”Mopalwar said.