The forest advisory committee (FAC) under the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests has rejected a proposal to redirect over 382 hectares of Madhya Pradesh’s forest land for the Bunder diamond mining project in the Bakswaha region of Chhatarpur district.
In 2020, the MP government submitted a proposal, seeking approval to utilize this forest land on behalf of a mining company.
In November 2022, the Madhya Pradesh state government made a final attempt by writing to the central authority for approval. However, the proposal has ultimately been turned down.
Officials said that the inspector general of forests of the environment ministry has written to the additional chief secretary of the MP forest department that the proposal was discussed in the FAC, headed by the DG-forest, on December 27, 2022.
During the meeting, the FAC noted that a significant portion of the Panna Tiger Reserve would be affected due to the Ken-Betwa project. The FAC highlighted concerns that the project could disrupt the natural habitat of tigers, potentially forcing them to seek new territories. It also raised concerns about the project’s impact on neighbouring regions, emphasizing the need to await the final outcome of the Ken-Betwa River Linking Project.
Also, the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) is exploring alternative forest lands to expand Panna Tiger Reserve in the Jimbanna region. There are also multiple petitions against this project.
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