- India’s ambitious bullet train project between Ahmedabad-Mumbai has been given wildlife clearance even though it encroaches upon a Thane Creek flamingo sanctuary and the Sanjay Gandhi National Park, the home to leopards, in Mumbai.
- The Thane Creek Flamingo Sanctuary supports a large congregation of flamingos, globally threatened species such as the greater spotted eagle and others such as osprey.
- The National Board of Wildlife, while according permission has laid pre-conditions for the project.These include:(a) paying Rs 10 crore for habitat improvement of the sanctuary (b) barricading the work site to ensure no debris falls outside the project area and (c) providing site and funds for plantation of at least five times the number of mangroves plants anticipated to be lost in the project as a penalty.
- The National Board of Wildlife is a “Statutory Organization” constituted under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.It advises the Central Government on framing policies and measures for conservation of wildlife in the country.It also serves as apex body to review all wildlife-related matters and approve projects in and around national parks and sanctuaries.
