To

No.F.8(16)/WL-2019/NBWL/ 30 5(;'3 ~ ~ gGOVERNMENT OF TRIPURA

0/0 THE PRINCIPAL CHIEF CONSERVATOR OF FORESTSARANYABHAWAN, PT. NEHRU COMPLEX, GURKHABASTI I

KUNJABAN,AGARTALA.

Dated the '<'1october'fo 19The Secretary, Tourism,Capital complex, New secretariat Building, Agartala.

The Chief Engineer, (R & B),Capital complex, New Secretariat Building, Agartala.

The District Forest Officer,West/ Sepahijalay Gomati/SouthKhowai/Dhalai/North & Unokoti, Tripura ..The Wildlife Warden,Sepahijala/Trishna/Gomati & Roa,

The Sub-Divisional Forest Officer,Dharmanagar / Kanchanpur / Kailashahar / Kumarghat/ Man u /Ambassay Teliamura/Khowai/ Sadary Mandai / Bishalgarh/Sonamuray Udaipur/ Amarpur/ Karbook/Bagafa/Sabroom.

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ISub: - Recommendations of the Standing Committee of National Board for Wild~ife on

(i) Re-surfacing/ Strengthening/ Widening of Roads in the Protected Areas, and(ii] Sustainable Sand Mining Management Guidelines, 2016-reg. I

IRef: - Letter No.F.No.6-122/2019 WL dated, 17-09-2019 of the MoEF & CC (Wildlife

Division), New Delhi. _ ISir, I

Please find enclosed herewith a copy of the letter vide dated, 17-09-20191 alongwith policies were considered by the Standing Committee of National Board for Wildlifeas received from the Wildlife Division of the MoEF & CC, New Delhi which sp~ak foritself. I

2. I am directed to request you to follow the guidelines/ policies undet yourjurisdiction in letter and spirit while considering development project in such areas.Necessaryaction in this regard may be taken accordingly.

Enclo: As stated above YO~Usfai lly

~~,\()(\1(C.. Das, S)

Conservator of Forests, Wildlife0/0 the PCCF Tripura. I

Copy to:1. The PS to the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests & HoFF, Tripura.2. The pS to the Chief Wildlife Warden, Tripura.3. The Nodal Officer, FCA of FHQ.4.;:cpe Chief Conservator of Forests (Territorial), FHQ.

~ The I/C GIS Lab for information and for uploading the saTFD.

to the Website of1

I,

")..~ \ C9 'IL 9Conserva r of Forests, Wildlife:

0/0 the PCCF Tripura. I

Government of IndiaMinistry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change /

(Wildlife Division) .r

./6th Floor, layuWingIndira Paryavarar Bhawan

Jor Bagh RoadNew DelHi110 003

IDate: l' .09.2019.

F.No.6-122/2019 WL.or/'\"To .

Recommendations of the Standing Committee of National Board for Wild Life on (i) Re­surfacing I Strengthening I Widening of Roads in the Protected Areas, and (ii)Sustainable Sand MiningManagement Guidelines, 2016- reg.

Sir / Madam,

. The 55thMeeting of the Standing Committee of National Board for Wild Life was held on.29th.August.2019 through ~ideo Conference and chaired by the Hon'ble Union ~inister forEnvironment, Forest & Climate Change. The following policies were consi ered andrecommendedfor implementationby the State I UTGovernments:

Re-surfacing I Strengthening I Widening of Roads in the Protected Areas

.The .IGF(WL) briefed the Standing Committee and stated that in pursua~ce to thedecision taken by the Standing Committee of NBWL in its za" meeting held on ?Oth.March2013,. a sub-committee un~er the ch~irmanship of Dr. M.K. Ra~jitsinh, M~mbe.r~BWL ~asconstituted. The sub-committee submitted the report to the Standing Committee In its meeting. Iheld on 4th September 2013 and same were circulated amongst the States / ~Ts. TheIGF(WL)also stated that the Ministry issued clarification dated 22.12.2014 on the proposals ofroads within the protected areas upon accepting the recommendations of the sub-committeeon guidelines for roads in the protected areas.

..(i) The principles provided in the report of the sub-committee have been adopted as

generic principle.(ii) New roads shall not be proposed inside National Parksand Sanctuaries.

,(iii) The cases of resurfacing and strengthening of existing Highways, not ~nvolvirgw!deningwith Protected Areas will be possible without reference to Standing Committee ofNational Board for Wildlife. . I

(iv) Cases of widening, of the existing roads, if un~voidable~ue to re.asonsof p~rp?Sedandalignment, could be placed before the ~t~nd~ngCommltte~, which ~ha".c9nslder suchcases keeping in view the feasibility of mitigation measures Irrespectiveof coast.

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Furthermore the IGF(WL) informed that the Section 33 of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, /1972 states that the Chief Wildlife Warden is the authority who shall control, manage and .,/maintain all sanctuaries and for that purpose, within the limits of any sanctuary, may construct­roads, bridges, buildings, fences or barrier gates, and carry out such other works as he ,).f(emay consider necessary for the purposes of sanctuary.

Provided that no construction of commercial tourist lodges, hotels, zoos and safari parks shallbe undertaken inside a sanctuary except with the prior approval of the National Board.

The IGF(WL) stated that new highways, State highways require environment clearance "iunder Schedule 7(f) of EIA Notification, 2006. However, no en~ironment clearance is requiredfor expansion of National Highways greater than 100 km involving additional right of way orland acquisition greater than 40 m on existing alignments and 60m on re-alignments or by­passes. As per the Ministry's (I.A. Division) notification dated 22.08.20"r3 if the eco-serrsitivezone of a National Parks / Wildlife Sanctuary is notified, the construction of a road is regulatedactivity. Further he stated that the Standing committee of National Board for Wild Life in its4yth meeting has already recommended adopting the,guidance document titled "Eco-FriendlyMeasures to Mitigate Impacts of Linear Infrastructure on Wildlife" for preparing the designs ofthe roads passing through the wildlife"! protected areaS. The Standing Committee has alsorecommended that in future the proposal for use of ProtectedAreas for construction of roadsand other linear infrastructures should accompany with the passage plan prepared based onabove mentioned Wil's guidance document. The same has been communicated to the all

, States / UTs Chief Wildlife Wardens vide letter dated 07.02.2018and 13.07.2018.

After discussions, the Standing Committee decided that all the recommendations of theSub-Committee on roads in the protected areas along with the advisory for mandatorysubmission of animal passage for all road projects be followed by the implementing agenciesand also advised that the Ministry should circulate recommendations/ advisories amongst theStates / UTs in this regard (copy enclosed).

Sustainable Sand Mining Management Guidelines, 2016

The IGF(WL) briefed the Standing Committee andstated that the Ministry's guidelinesnamed "Sustainable Sand Mining Management Guidelines, 2016" have been circulatedamongst the States I UTs in 2016. These guidelines would create a balancebetween preserving ecologically sensitive river habitats and the need for infrastructure. Theseguidelines have to be.ratified and implemented by states, since minorminerals, includingsand,come under the ~urv~e~of t~e state government. These guidelines are not statutory binding.These are generic principles Justto facilitate the sustainable mining and are applicable to riverbed material (balu, bajri, boulders, etc.) also.

. F.urther the IGF(WL) also stated that the Sustainable Sand Mining ManagementGUidelines, 2?16 have already been circulated amongst the States I UTs by the Ministry hasno~b~en notified. Therefore there is some flexibility remains however on Pan Indian BasisgUidelinescan be easily adaptable.

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After discussions, the/Standing Committee decided that guidelines named SustainableSand Mining ManagemenfGuidelines 2016 issued by the Ministry mandatorily be complied bythe project proponents fond also advised that the Ministry would request all the States fUTsGovernment for cirs~fation and adoption (copy is available at http://mines.bih.nic.infDocsfSustainable-Sand-Mining-Management-Guidelines_2016.Pdf).

Yours faithfully,

~ /(D~paSUp~

Scientist CCopy to

1.·All State f UT Chief Wildlife Warden2. All Add!. Principal Chief Conservatorof Forests, Regional Offices, Ministry of Environment,

Forest and Climate Change,3. Joint Secretary, fA Division, MoEF&CC4. Inspector General of Forests, FC Division, MoEF&CC

!(Dr. Pasupala Rav

Scientist C

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F. No. 6-~~/2013WL .'Dated: 2'Ci)~cember 2()14 ,

, Government of India.:Ministry: o(Envlrorunent, Forests and Climate Change

Wildlife Division .. . 6th Floor, VayU w.mgIndira Paryavarim Bhawan,

Jor Bag Road,Aliganj,.New Delhi..,llOO03

The Principal Secretary (Forests)All States/Union Territory Governments.

S~b: Recommendarlon oftbe sub-eemmittee on Guidelines for roads in ProtectedAreas, . .

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Sir/Madam,

In pursuance. to the decision taken by the Standing Committee of NBWL in lis 2811\.meeting held on '20tll March 2013, a sub-committee under the chairmanship of Dr. M.K.

- Ranjitsinh, member, NBWI,;. was constituted. The sub-committee subm itted their report, to theStanding Committee in its I11eeting held on 4th September 2013. A copy of thereport isenclosed herewith. .

The Standing Committee agreed to adopt the guidelines and had requested the ChiefWildlife Wardens to submit their comments; .if any, on the guidelines to the ,Ministry; Thereport of the sub-committee was circulatedto the Chief Wildlife Wardens, all States/UnionTerritories vide Jetter of evenno, dated 25th November 2013.' Comments 'have been' recelvedfro~ a.few StatclUnio'n Territories. SObsequ~ntly;'the.matter was elsoconsldered inthe 315

meeting of Standing Committee ofN'&WLheld on 12:-13A,ugust 2014. ' .. .

. . B~sed on the. re~ommendations, of the Standing 'Committ~e of.Na~ioiial 'Board fOI\VJldhfe, Iry the las~me~ttngdated pth _13th~ugu~t 2014, the undersigned IS dJre.ct~dto convel1the following clarifications regardmg consideration of proposals for roads .within Protected '.A~: ,... .

L The principles provided ill the'report of the. sllb;;¢'oil1mittee have beeh adopted 'il ,.generic principle.' .' . '.. '. .

ii. New roads shall.not be proposed inside National Parks and Sanctuaries.iii. The cases of resurfacing and strengthening of, existing Highways; nof involvin

wideni~g .within,' .p.rotected. Ar.eas ;wi~J be possible,withollt referen,ce to Standinf.'Committee of 'National Board for Wildlife; I.

iv, Cases of widening, .of the existing roads, .if unavoidable' due to reasons Of purpose an~alignment, could be placed before the Standing Committee, whiCh shall cohsid¢r sucrcases keeping in view the feasibility of mitigation measures irrespecti,v,e Of,',CO.S,t;, '.' ,',

. ~~H,

.. (M.L. Srivastav ).' Deputy Inspector G~ller~1 of)"orests ( )

•t

End: As above.

:2:

Copy to:1. The Joint Secretary, Ministry of Road Transport & Highways, Shipping. Government

of India, transport Bhawan, New Delhi.2. The Joint Secretary, I.A Division, MoEF&CC3. The Inspector General of Forests (Fe).MoEF&CC4. The Principal Chief Conservator of'Forests (WL). all StateslUnion Territories5. The Ch1efWildlife Warden, all StatesltJnion Territories

( M.L. Srivastava)Deputy Inspector General or Forests (WL)

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1I•••mm.n~atlOn.of lb. Sub-Committ •• on GnJd.lhI., fqt Boa"" In Prot ...... ANa.lIn l?ursuanc~ to the decision taken by'the Standing Committee- of the NBWL in j .

·:===.~=!:Z~~:b-:u::-=~=-~~1Bnviro$e1lt and Forests vide O.M. No. ~6m013.;.Wl,. dated 2~ J'une,2013. ''!'be terms dr. ' ;, '. - , ".

. reference of the sub-commhtee sic as folloWs:

• To. f1;ariioa. eompreheI1l!iye suideline for oonstrUctionlrepMr: or rollds passlllgthrough PAin the country

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.• ~~s.i~. ,·.~.Prnc.=:ch roo.cJs passingthrou~ pAs so.as to have b'•.•..·..•T.wildlife conservation -> .. . - . .. I

. . The 1" meeting o~'the sub-cornmlttee was convened.oh 2DdJuly,. 20B.Th~ ~eCOjd.meeting of the- eub-ccmmtttee was' convened on 6th August, 2013. The 1Jm of partiCIpantwho attended both themeetings are givertin Annexure-L, '.

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Roads are an essential part of India' s development, providing vital connectivityandtransportation a,CI"OSB tho country. Yet, when they intersect natural areas (as opposed to be;" IS'.Sifuated In a.lreadY-modified human~don1inatedlallds"ap((!,l).r<?!lds. ~~.\Yig~~ and ..complex impact onnaturaI'_ ~wilcl species inha.bIting these areas. Withhl India'sProtected Areas, .th¢ extensive impact of roads remains poorly understood, ~cept ilitb,e.obvious and serious iwtan6e of wild anima! mortality due to road accidents. Elsewhere, itwas been well..:established that roads have. detrimental ecological effects inboth terrestri~land aquatic riatui-aI.ecosystems, Roads further fragment the already highly ftagincnte4 ..'natural habitats. TheY bfeak.furestcontiguity, impinge on forests and well-woramigratory.paths 01 animals, break tree Cover and canopy, slice vegetation-c-all of which gravely imp ctwildlife. Roads cause soil erosion and landslides. Crucially, roads are the first step toancillary' development and an i.ncreai1i~g·bUmanfootprint in the area, thus leading to

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aCcelerated'doveJ.opmCmai, tourist andbt~g pressures. itlomuao in.pollution. litter. andvarious ~~s. ''(Jnless grccrt yigi.]a®e and chcCka arC prov:ided. roaids provide ~tB,for iDegal oXtraction oftfmbei> end 'foresi produce and for poaching, ~:at nfabt, ,ftoin vehioles. ,It Is very difficult to provide the requiSito ~e~ and it iswell­C8tabl1shedthat PAs haw sutrei-ed~ ofvegotativo cover and poadllng after ~ofrOldS. In PAs in1bomountamoua region , constructlon of road'sand tbeh wklening basgrsvO consequCJ1ces_ fncJ.udiDi laadslidos and :erosion.u tho debris from roa4 cot3 onbDWdes hi inv8riably tipPed over the sides.A be.ckaround' paper On linc8r intn1aions Jnto.natura}'at'I"..as. including roads, ~oned by the National Board for WiJclIifein.2011~provJdes an ~ review oltho cmreDt stato ofboWIedge On thU topicl, andacompanion doCumcnf provides detailed guidelines bywhich ibcir Degativo impacton~habitats and wild species, can be IJliniDused. '.

BASIC PRINCIPLESWe wish to reiterate a point mtioulated clearly and emphatically in the National WildlifeACtion Plan - 20.02-2016, Whichstates that the "Minfstry ofSurfoce TranSpo11... topkm~. highways, ~6Way.f III niChamanner. that allnationai parla andsmictuarlu anby-paased and /ntB&rlty o/ths P..4IsmafItt'atned. Wildllfo corridors alsoneed to beawJidsd,01'mltlg~ measuru (such a.J rutrlctfng 7l1gh/traffic) need to be smployed." This principleIXlUII$·aerve lIS tho COl'neDtOno ofany road plan that ~,being cOl'lCCivod in tho viclnity ~fanywildIifo or ProteotOd Atee, -aDd Cnvbi.ge. tho Ministry of Surface Transport to wOrt in.coordination with theMinistry ofBnvironment & Forests. and other relevant authorities andoxport8. Further, 'we believe thit thiS princfplo must apply to all other roods being planned byany other ftgeJlCY at the national, state, or JocallcveJs. The hriplication of thiS action pointamcu18fed itt the National WildlifeAction Pian (NWAP) isalso that plans be ma(leproactively by relevant agencies to realianexisting roads passing throughprotcctcd ~, ina way that PAS arc bypassed and, sUbsequently. decomrnissiqn:roads that in1lmect PAs.. ,

1 ' 'Raman; T•.R. 5, 2011. Framing E!col08lcaltv sound policy on linear Intrusions affecting wildlife

habitats: Background paper for the t'latlonal Board for WIldlife. Available from:envfor.nlc.1n/assets/Llnear%201ntruslonS%2ObaCkground%2opaper.pdf

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,2 NBWL.2011.Dra'ft guidelines for linear Infrastructure, Intrusions In naturalareas: roads andpowerlines. Available from:

http;/Ienvtor.nlc.1n/assets/FIRSTDraft%2bguldellnes%20roads9620aOO%20Powerflnes.pdf'

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Ifthcre arc Viablo ~e ali8mne~ observed ina number of casOs-to roadsotherwise intersect PAs. those within PAS~1l5t gradually be phased out and eventually, '. '&commissioned. white the alternate road ~ou4i be bnproved. This mustbe ~ incoordinatlon with tho ~leynnt ministries. departments and auth.orlt:ies" as noted Ilbove.,Inplailn.iJ)greads,within imdilltho vi¢{nity (de&edhere as roadS1ha1arO situatedand ~ 1km radial distance) of protected areas, we recommend that following ,fundamental Principles must 1>e followed .inorder ofprlority: Avoidance, Realignment,Restoration. '

1; Prfnctple 'of~ The forcinost Option woUld be toaltogethcr avoid ateas8rowithin or in1Itevicinity orany Protected Area and to find alternativCs that ~socially and eCologicallymore appropriate.' . . ..

... .. _ . : , . _" . ," _.;''''''!'.- -_2. Principle of~:This fonows.aS a eorollary of tbe fustptinclple. Road

prqj~.must investigate and demonstrate that they have considered othct altemalt,i:VOroUtes·that avoid lUItural areas Of high ecological value. This must be an integralfeaturc of a project proposal and implementation documents. RealIgnments mustbe developed ina transparent manner through consultation with local 'affected by the routing 8ll;dsubject to ecological and wildlife considerations.User age~iesseeking clearaaces for roads must demonstrate as to how theytaken these factorS into account, before their proposals can be considered forapproval by tho SC-NBWL. .' ,

, 3. Principle (,fRestonllioit: Innatural areas,existing roads that arc In disuse (e.g .•,loi~gmgi':oads)o Or evaluated to be inefficient or detrimental to their objects. shalltargeted for deootnmissioning and subsequent ecological restoration, as tho .....,...,.......assisting the recovery of an ecosystem that has been degraded, damaged, ord~y~ , ,

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The Deputy Inspector General of Forests (WL) briefed the conuniUee ""';n'AM;naex)sti.ng guidelines for roads within Protected Areas, vlz.:

(it) ,

Decision of the Standing C~ril:mittee of ~\yL. ,',118" por clecision,takentho meeting held on i4.6iooo. This held that roads that have already.tarred should continuo to be mainu.lme4 "llll4'~ properly; in ~ ,iorril. No roads inside the National, Parks and' SanctuarIes should.be,uri~I.....f"'("or upgraded.

During th., meeting of 14'" October '2011, it indicated that "No w{,'/en,inf!'existing roads shall be permlUed, and Ihe staIU.J of finisJiing of lITe J'",'»"1n,('!i!

the repaired road(s) shoji remain same as that of the original ,,',"u11".1

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untarred,..batJ8 shall remain umarred after repairs, ~ only originally tarred.roads sball be repaited and tarred. "

.Reeommendatfons

.:·The committee recommends the following:'

1. The statui qUo of the roads pessing through National Parks and Cote CriticalTiget'liabitata (CTH) shall remain tho same'; The roads couldbe tnnintait)ed andrepaired in. the best ~ possible in their current form and present Width. NowkleQing or upgradation is to be allowed. If it is an e:X:isting ~ road, its.hftilbe Diain.tairtod. as SUch and no widening of the tarred'smface ox.;:{t.:ie Wi~o~the.road itself. maYbe done.

. 2. For 'Wildlifo SanCtuaries and Conservation Reserves; the same norms lIS in thecascoof National Parks and Core, Critical Tiger habitats, shall apply. However, incase of Sanctuaries and Conservation Reserves; culverts and metalling in sectionsof roads iliai become impassable or 'all weather roads' for approacb/ccnnectivityto vinages withiil. the Protected Areas, can be considered for approval in theStanding Cemmiuee of NBWL. Ifnecessary in such ceses, requited malntenencecould be taken up by the F91'CstDept, on the recommendation of the Standing

j, Committee of NBWL. Itmay be stressed again, that the ~th 'and status of the.' ~.tmg roadS' shan 'iCOi4ht the .s~e and no urigrndtion will be allowed, In. considering such proposals, the method of such road ccnstructlon/lmprovement. such as blasting, ·horrow.;pitdigging, etc" the impact upon movement of animalsfrom one habitaf to anotherlwildlife corridors, access of water, etc, would becriteria for consideration. .

3. Where. roftdIJ approaching I passing by National Parks/Core-Critical TigerReserve!Wildlifc Sanctuary are within a radius of 1 km thereof. or Within the&0-Sensitive Zone, Whichever of the two is lesser, would be treated on samebasis/guidelines- as are applicable to the Protected Areas category that it is inproximity of•.

'4. Presently, as. Community Reserves are outside the purview of Section 29 ofWildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, the committee decided not to delve into thematter of roads passing through such PAs.

1. The committee recommended that, no change of current ownership andmaintenance' of roads passmg through the Protected Areas should be' permitted.However, in specific cases where such a transfer is required to better manage

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-- roads -so _Illl10 c.tl~ mlnim~llmpaots .~. wikillfo. as in tho ease ofcertain PWD lother toads which ~s -tlil'ough PAs. back to the eonceme~Dept SU()h·transferscould be cOnsi(iereq. .

5. Roads .being managed by th~Forest Department for the purpose of pa1rOn~tourism, were of equal concern like other roads inside Protected Areas •..n:oted that thet\ was a largo network-ofsuoh roads in several Nldionall> .~eives!Wil<iJi'& -~tuaries. -No now roada. should DC C~1l.$trU~·

cOlicerned-F~st Departinents and if so requiiedtooo-cons.tructed, the-··... .of the National TIger ~ervation -Authority- (iti ease of Tiger Re~[Ve~) and .concerned s~ B~-f~r WIldlife incas~- ofru:)Jl~Tiger~sc~e _f6r~rl.~h.,must be obtained, The ccncemed-authority should be able to demonstrate and

justify the grounds for construction of the n~ roa~ within PAS,! rl..theconservation interest of'the concerned PA.

6, Tb:' ~_ also,agreed _'tho WUdrul.e Institute of India Sho~ld f~Ulaieguidelines - for mumg roads by th.e Forest Departments. for protection pWPoses.inProtected Areas, Critical Wildlife Habitats and dQsl~ corridors;

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Management of roads:W1thin .PAst

MUlgatlom For ~tin~ roads, repairs and maintenance of existing roa~, andiotrepairing toads that are i1;npaSsableduring monsoonlnll-weather roads as d~rlbed illtbe reconuncndatiODS aboye,)t is ~J>«'ative th8t mitigation measures are inc~ded in.tho project planning, design, budget. Implementation, and monitoring stages, This. ._:::~fi:~:e~~:~e:e::::~~~n::S~:l~~~~dl~:riilnew cases, where the options given earlier have been compre~vely consid/ered~. ovemiled, with adequate justif.i~on:.·TheBe are-atso subje~ntirequimte .approvals -from 140state authorities and boards, the MlnisUy ofEnvirotunent ardForests and its statutory bodies, s\l'?has the National Board for Wildlife. FOrest .Advisory CQmmittee. and the National Tiger Conservation Authority. as relevliIrttoeach case.

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~~~~!'Wm.v'e~t ofllUUlagement measures have been recommended inthe NBWL's draft. . . 4oCumC'.Qtmenti.onedabovc (pages 8-13. and 17-21). While fully endorsing these',~~end~ managemem measures. for ready reference. some of$e keymanagement, conslClerations applicable for already existing roads, are b;erewithhighlighted:

• Ban on night traffic (t;1uskto dawn) is essentiafto save animals frOmdiSturbance. .fr'(>m the constaiit .flow of1raffio, and thus allow them passage. It is recommended that'night traffic bans should be initiated and applied in Care Crl1ical Tiger Habitats. .National Parks and Sanctuaries. There are such existing bans invarious TigerReserves aod NPs. Night passes maybe provided for vll1agcrslcommUnitieslivingWithin the PAS. .

• Strong regulations controlling timing and traffic volumes need to'be built infor allroads, t.hJ:oughProtected /U'eas and critical habitats. ' .' ; . .

• Speed reduction is a must to reduce wild animal mortality~and can. be achievedthrou~)mposed speed limits and speed bJ:eakers.

•. Vehicle:s ShOuidnot be allowed to stop with.in P~.• No use of horns within the PA, and noUttering.• Speed restrictioas and other guidelines that spell out rules and avoidance of

disturbance to wildlife and habitats along roads in 'PAs. must be prominentlyconveyed through well-designed signboards, at entry and.exit points and all other.relevant locations. '.

• Establishment of check posts by the forest department, at both entry and exit points., • Wherever possible, natora] animal crossings existing across roads should be retained

or encouraged. For instance. overlapping tree' canopy inclosed ca,nopyevergreen/semi evergreen forests is an essential attribute fqr the movement ofarboreal species. Passage toweterholes and dally movements oftu:i:irhals must also besafeguarded.

• Underpassesr well-designed tunnels. culverts, pipes, and other structures can function.as underpasses below roads and bridges, for a wide-range of'terrestrial and aquaticspecies. Underpasses can also be deployed below railway Iines/blghways for passageof large bodied animals, viz elephants, tigers,

• During mafntenance works on exlsttng roads, the underlying principle should be thatwork must be carried On in a speedymanner, with minimal disturbance to wildlife and.with adherence to all rules and regulations that govern wildlife and PAs.

• No work should be allowed between 6 pm to 8 am(just before dusk to just after dawn)• The labour force required for road maintenance must have then: camps outside. the

concerned PA .• No firewood cutting or fue] collection from within the PA• Waste/debris should not be dumped in the PAlor adjoining rivers/nullas/waterbodies• No taking of any material like sand, gravel etc from the PA. All materials for

construction, road maintenance etc should 00 brought from outside .• No vegetation/tree should be cut or damaged/ during the maintenance.

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lGovernment of India ./

Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate ~hange(Wildlife Division) /

/ Indira Paryavaran Bhawan.Jar Bag Roadi Aliganj

New Delhi 10 003Date: 13 07.2018

F.No. 6-4/2018 WL

To

All Chief Wildlfie Wardens.State i UT Forest Department

Sub: Mandatory Submission of Wildlife Passage Plan for an Linear Projects (roads, canal, railway]- reg.

Ref: Letter No.6-4/201R WL dated 07.02.2018 from this office

Sir 1Madam,

Kind attention is invited to the above mentioned subject and reference therein. In this contFxt it ismentioned that the Standing Committee of NBWL in its 4th meeting held on 25th Janua y 2018recommneded that all the linear infrastructure projects seeking clearance from the Standing C011111itteeofNBWL mandatorily contain Animal Passage Plan. However' it is noticed that State Govts. are stillforwarding proposals without Animal. Passage Plan. Therefore it is advised that no proposal f linerarinfrastructure projects submitted to the State Govts. by the user agency after J st August 20] 8 s ould beforwarded to the Standing Committee of NBWL without the Animal Passage Plan prepared in cOTultatiol1of the State CWL W on the basis of the gt~ide.lines n~med Eco:(riendly Measures to Mitigate ImraClS 017Linear Infrastructures on Wildlife of the Wildlife Institute of India,

G"TthfUlly~~(Dr. PasupaJa RaviAS~ientist C

E-mail: ddwlmef{(J) JJ11ail.com