Environmental activists, wildlife experts, and civil society organisations have raised serious concerns over proposed iron ore and coal mining projects in Maharashtra’s Chandrapur district, warning that these activities could cause irreversible damage to forests, wildlife habitats, and fragile ecosystems in a crucial tiger corridor connected to the Tadoba–Andhari Tiger Reserve.
According to conservationists, Tadoba is one of India’s most important tiger landscapes. Any disturbance in this region could affect wildlife movement, biodiversity, and ecological balance far beyond the immediate mining area. They stress that once forest corridors are destroyed, restoring them is extremely difficult—often impossible.
Wildlife Clearance Raises Alarm
Concerns intensified after the Maharashtra State Board for Wildlife (SBWL), chaired by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, granted wildlife clearance to an iron ore opencast mining project near Lohardongri village. Following the state board’s approval, the proposal will now be forwarded to the National Board for Wildlife (NBWL) for further scrutiny and a final decision.
The proposed mining site lies in Reserved Forest Compartment No. 439 in Brahmapuri taluka and covers an area of 35.94 hectares. Official records confirm that this site falls within a vital wildlife corridor linking the Tadoba–Andhari Tiger Reserve with the Brahmapuri–Gadchiroli forest landscape.
Wildlife experts explain that such corridors are essential for the safe movement and genetic exchange of animals, especially large carnivores like tigers and leopards. Blocking or disturbing these forest links can trap animals in small areas, leading to overcrowding, lack of food, and rising conflict with humans.
Forest Corridor Crucial for Wildlife Survival
The Lohardongri forest corridor supports around five tigers, eight to ten leopards, sloth bears, wild dogs, deer, and many smaller species. It also provides habitat for birds, reptiles, insects, and plants that together maintain the health of the forest ecosystem.
Experts warn that damage to this narrow forest strip could fragment habitats and break natural movement paths. Tigers may struggle to find mates or new territories, weakening populations over time. Fragmented forests also increase the risk of animals entering nearby villages in search of food, resulting in human–wildlife conflict.
A three-member committee appointed by the SBWL examined the proposal and recommended wildlife clearance only under strict conditions. One key condition was that the entire 34,673.67-hectare forest corridor should first be formally notified as a wildlife sanctuary. This large area includes the Ghodazari Wildlife Sanctuary and the Ekara Conservation Reserve, both critical for maintaining ecological connectivity.
However, despite recommending conditional clearance, the committee issued a strong warning in its report, stating that “any mining in this forest will cause irreversible damage to the environment and wildlife, loss of a large tree cover, and immense pollution of air and water.” Environmentalists argue that such a warning should have been enough to reject the project outright.
Coal Mining Adds to the Threat
Concerns have deepened further following the National Board for Wildlife’s recent approval of coal mining in another forest area of Chandrapur. The Durgapur Opencast Coal Mine, operated by Western Coalfields Limited, has been permitted to divert 80.77 hectares of forest land.
This area is also part of a tiger corridor connecting Tadoba, Kanhargaon, and Tipeshwar forests. These forest links allow tigers and other animals to move safely between protected areas and maintain healthy populations.
Coal mining typically involves large-scale deforestation, blasting, heavy vehicle movement, dust, noise, and waste generation. Experts warn that such activities severely damage forests, pollute rivers and streams, degrade soil quality, and disturb animal behaviour. Wildlife may be forced to abandon their natural routes or move into human settlements, creating risks for both animals and people.
Tadoba: One of India’s Key Tiger Landscapes
Tadoba National Park, located in Chandrapur district, is one of India’s oldest and most well-known tiger reserves. Established in 1955, it was later merged with the Andhari Wildlife Sanctuary to form the Tadoba–Andhari Tiger Reserve in 1995.
The reserve is part of the Central Indian Tiger Landscape, one of the most important regions for tiger conservation in the country. This landscape allows tigers to move between forests, helping maintain genetic diversity and stable populations.
Tadoba is home to Royal Bengal tigers, leopards, sloth bears, Indian gaurs, wild dogs, sambars, chitals, and hundreds of bird species. Dense teak and bamboo forests, along with the Andhari River and Tadoba Lake, provide essential water, food, and shelter for wildlife.
Due to its rich biodiversity, Tadoba attracts thousands of visitors each year. Tadoba safari bookings are popular among wildlife lovers, photographers, and tourists from India and abroad, supporting local livelihoods.
Why Tiger Corridors Matter
A tiger corridor is a narrow forest stretch that connects larger protected areas. These corridors act as natural pathways, allowing animals to move freely, find food, establish territories, and breed.
Corridors help prevent inbreeding, reduce pressure on single forest areas, and keep wildlife away from villages by providing safe forest routes. If these corridors are destroyed by mining, tigers can become isolated in small patches, leading to population decline and increased conflict with humans.
Mitigation Plans Fall Short
To reduce mining impacts, the Wildlife Institute of India (WII) proposed a mitigation plan costing ₹18.07 crore, which includes fencing, removal of invasive plant species like Prosopis, and wildlife movement studies.
However, many experts argue that no mitigation plan can truly replace a destroyed forest corridor. Once trees are felled and land is mined, the original ecosystem cannot be fully restored. Conservationists believe that preventing mining in such sensitive areas is far better than attempting damage control later.
Impact on Tourism and Local Communities
Mining near Tadoba National Park could also harm wildlife tourism, a major source of income for local communities. If forests are damaged and animals move away, tourist numbers may decline, affecting jobs related to safaris, hotels, guides, drivers, and small businesses.
Tourism also plays a role in conservation, as communities are more likely to protect forests that support livelihoods. A decline in tourism could weaken support for wildlife protection and harm both people and nature.
Call for a Precautionary Approach
Environmental groups and conservationists are urging state and central authorities to prioritise ecological security over short-term economic gains. While mining profits may last a few years, forests provide long-term benefits such as clean air, water, biodiversity, climate protection, and sustainable livelihoods.
As the proposal moves before the National Board for Wildlife, conservationists are calling for a careful, science-based, and precautionary decision. Protecting the Tadoba–Brahmapuri–Gadchiroli forest corridor is essential—not just for tigers, but for the long-term health and resilience of central India’s forest ecosystems and communities.
