The new land Acquisition Act is likely to spell trouble for UT’s ambitious project of creating wildlife corridor between Sukhna Wildlife Sanctuary and Sukhna lake Reserve Forest for protection of wildlife.
There have been considerate apprehensions about the clauses of new Act that can prove a stumbling block in the progress of wildlife corridor project. The UT top brass is likely to put the project on the backburner to avert foreseen ripple effect of executing this project.
The proposed wildlife corridor is to connect Sukhna Wildlife Sanctuary spreading over 2610.99 hectares with 105.57 hectares area of lake Reserve Forest. Nearly 450 acres of agricultural land of Kaimbwala village between the two forest areas is to be utilised to develop this wildlife corridor. While nearly 58 acres land has been acquired for the project, the UT Administration has its work cut out for the acquisition of about 392 acre remaining land.
Given the instances in the past, the land acquisition has always remained a controversial issue for the UT Administration.
This time, the clauses in the new land acquisition Act are seen as a trouble for UT Administration plan’s of developing wildlife corridor. Given the inaccurate nature of circle rates, the Act proposes the payment of compensations that are up to four times the market value in rural areas and twice the market value in urban areas.
Also, the new Act will give farmers some space to bargain and also to agree or refuse the acquisition. In addition to those losing land, the Act provides compensation to those who are dependent on the land being acquired for their livelihood.
Furthermore, if the Government after acquiring the land sells it to a third party then 40 percent of the appreciated value will be shared with the original owners.
A senior official of the UT Administration while requesting anonymity said, “As of now, the UT Administration is not keen to proceed forward in the wildlife corridor project.
The higher authorities are apprehensive about the higher cost of compensation to be offered to the land owners, whose land would be acquired in the whole process.”
“The project seems far from reality in the next few years as the UT Administration can not bear such higher cost for land acquisition. At present, the urban planning projects in the city are the priority of the Administration, said the official.
The Planning Commission had already in-principle approved the project to develop wildlife corridor here.
“Now, the UT Administration will wait for the directions of the Union Ministry regarding the project. The process of land acquisition for the project would only be started after Ministry’s nod,” added the official.
The proposed corridor spreading over an area of 450 acres would connect the lake Reserved Forest with Sukhna Wildlife Sanctuary ensuring a stable habitat for the animals and will also restrict them from venturing into the residential areas.
The wildlife corridor is proposed to be developed in phases. And, the project is likely to be completed in 8-10 years. At present, the Sukhna wildlife habitat has a large number of Sambars, peacocks and endangered species like spotted deer, porcupine, pangolin, wild pigs, cheetal. The lake Forest Reserve is also inhabited by Sambars and other animals.
The wildlife corridor is also aimed at keeping the animals away from the city. Sambars, monkeys, snakes, pythons are often found to have strayed into the residential areas posing a risk to the human life. In the past, several such complaints have been registered.
Notably, the UT Master Plan—Vision 2031 has proposed developing a wildlife corridor stating that efforts should be made to notify some of the land on sanctuary’s periphery as forest to provide corridors for wildlife to other forest areas as already planned by UT Forest Department to extend the Sukhna Reserve Forest to parts of Kaimbwala village.