There is increasing concern about the serious effects that roads have on wilderness areas and their biodiversity (refer to page 50 in this issue for an overview of the impacts of roads on some of Karnataka's finest Protected Areas). This concern is yet to make itself fully felt in the corridors of power, however, with road after road being planned in wildlife areas. In the case of the Bengal East-West corridor, at direct risk are the Mahananda Wildlife Sanctuary, Jaldapara Wildlife Sanctuary, Chapramari Wildlife Sanctuary, Gorumara National Park, Buxa Tiger Reserve, Jalpaiguri Forest Division and the Himalayan foothills of the Kalimpong Forest Division.
This region exhibits diverse forest types and a range of natural habitats, from low forested foothills, luxuriant Duars, mixed-deciduous forests, sal forests, semi-evergreen and evergreen trees and stretches of moist savannah. The diversity of habitats has given rise to a significant diversity of species. These forests are among the last refuges for a number of highly endangered endemic species of mammals and birds. Some of the mammals found here are the one-horned rhinoceros, Asian elephant, tiger, leopard, hog deer, leopard cat and the large Indian civet. Almost 400 species of birds occur in this region, including the highly endangered Bengal Florican.
Certain members of the West Bengal government have recognised the threat this highway poses. During the meeting of the West Bengal State Wildlife Advisory Board on March 21, 2003, the Forest Minister, all members of the Board and the District Magistrate of Jalpaiguri expressed concern over the project. They requested the Government of India, Ministry of Environment and Forests and the National Board for Wildlife to consider an alternate route, which will avoid forested areas. Not only will the impacts of this alternative route be significantly reduced, it is also more practical, shorter and more economical. This route will go via Siliguri, Jalpaiguri, Mainaguri, Dhupguri, Falakata, Kuchbari, Toofanganj and on to Assam.
Forest destruction is not the only drawback to the proposed alignment. North Bengal is interlaced by powerful rivers with strong gradients. Constructing highways across such rivers will lead to erosion, siltation downstream and be fraught with risk. Drainage patterns would also be affected. The proposed road would also pass through sparsely populated areas, thus not benefitting many local people. Because these areas are sparsely populated there are presently few major roads, which accounts for the relatively good condition of these wild habitats.
Please take a few minutes to understand and then lend your name to the Sanctuary campaign to stop the construction of the 'East-West' Corridor in northeast India. You can take the first step by writing a polite letter along the lines suggested and posting it to the parties concerned.
