National Board for Wildlife to obtain wildlife clearances for 4-laning of Gurgaon-Farrukhnagar road

Chandigarh, May 12 – Haryana Government has decided to send a proposal to the National Board for Wildlife to obtain wildlife clearances for 4-laning of Gurgaon-Farrukhnagar road passing along the eco-sensitive zone of Sultanpur National Park. The National Board of Wildlife approval is needed for all projects which are to come up in the vicinity of wildlife sanctuaries, national parks or protected areas in any part of country.
A decision to this effect was taken in the third meeting of the State Wildlife Board held under the chairmanship of the Chief Minister Mr Manohar Lal here today.
The State Wildlife Board today approved this proposal to be sent to National Board for Wildlife with some mitigation measures including plantation of trees, construction of speed-brakers, no extraction of ground water within the limit of eco-sensitive zone, no construction plant such as hot mix plant to be set up within the limit of eco-sensitive zone, no construction activity to be carried out after 6 pm upto one kilometer from the boundary of the park and fixing noise limit of all the construction equipments as per defined standards. The widening of road is required for smooth movement of vehicular traffic and to reduce accidents without disturbance to the wildlife.
Stressing the need for water conservation, the Chief Minister directed the officers to carry out a survey for developing lakes in the state. He also emphasized the need to explore possibilities for bringing water to the Badkhal Lake.
It was informed in the meeting that Forest Department in consultation with Public Works (Building and Roads) will construct six paths on pilot basis in remote areas of Morni hill in Panchkula district so as to provide better connectivity to the residents.
The Forests Minister, Rao Narbir Singh, Principal Secretary to Chief Minister Mr Rajesh Khullar, Additional Chief Secretary Forests Mr. Amit Jha, Additional Chief Secretary, Social Justice and Empowerment Mr. Sunil Gulati, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, Mrs. Amarinder Kaur and other senior officers were also present in the meeting.