What Happened
- Maharashtra's State Board for Wildlife (SBWL), chaired by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, approved iron ore mining in 35.95 hectares of reserved forest in the Brahmapuri division of Chandrapur district, directly within the wildlife corridor connecting Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve and Ghodazari Sanctuary.
- The SBWL's own expert committee had warned of "irreversible damage" to the ecosystem, but the board overrode the recommendation and granted approval to Nagpur-based private steel firm Sunflag Ltd.
- The project would require felling of over 18,000 trees and threatens approximately 60 tigers in the region, while generating only 120 jobs (of which only 32 are permanent).
- The Bombay High Court's Nagpur Bench took suo motu cognizance of the matter, registered it as a Public Interest Litigation, and appointed a senior advocate as amicus curiae.
- Environmental activists have launched protests, and political leaders including Aaditya Thackeray have urged the Centre to reject the mining proposal when it reaches the National Board for Wildlife (NBWL) for final clearance.
Static Topic Bridges
Wildlife Corridors and Tiger Conservation under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972
Wildlife corridors are strips of natural habitat connecting isolated protected areas, allowing the movement of animals -- particularly large carnivores like tigers -- between populations that would otherwise be separated by human settlements, roads, and agricultural land. They are critical for maintaining genetic diversity, reducing inbreeding risks in populations below 50 individuals, and enabling natural dispersal of sub-adult tigers.
Under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 (as amended in 2006), Section 38V(3)(b) specifically provides for tiger conservation plans to ensure "ecologically compatible land uses in areas linking one protected area or tiger reserve with another" and to "provide dispersal habitats and corridor for spill over population of wild animals from the designated core areas of tiger reserves." The NTCA promotes corridor conservation as part of Tiger Conservation Plans (TCPs) prepared by each tiger reserve.
- Section 38V (inserted by the 2006 Amendment) -- mandates state governments to prepare Tiger Conservation Plans in consultation with NTCA
- Section 38O(1) and (2) -- empowers NTCA to "disallow any ecologically unsustainable land use such as mining, industry and other projects within tiger reserves"
- Chapter IVB (Sections 38L to 38O) -- inserted by the Wildlife (Protection) Amendment Act, 2006 (effective 4 September 2006), created the statutory framework for NTCA
- India's tiger population: 3,682 (range 3,167-3,925) as per the 2022 All India Tiger Estimation, up from 1,411 in 2006 -- approximately 70% of the global wild tiger population
Connection to this news: The Brahmapuri forest division serves as a critical tiger corridor connecting Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve with Ghodazari Sanctuary, Umred-Karhandla Wildlife Sanctuary, and the Navegaon-Nagzira forests. Approving mining within this corridor directly contradicts the statutory mandate under Section 38V to maintain ecologically compatible land use in corridor areas.
National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) and National Board for Wildlife (NBWL)
The NTCA is a statutory body constituted under Section 38L(1) of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, as amended in 2006. It is chaired by the Minister of Environment, Forests and Climate Change and is responsible for approving Tiger Conservation Plans, setting normative standards, and evaluating the ecological sustainability of projects within tiger landscapes.
The NBWL, constituted under Section 5A of the Act, is a 47-member statutory body chaired by the Prime Minister. Its Standing Committee (SC-NBWL) handles project clearances -- any development activity within or within 10 km of a National Park, Wildlife Sanctuary, or Tiger Reserve requires the recommendation of the Standing Committee of the NBWL, as per the Supreme Court's order.
- NBWL: Chaired by the Prime Minister (Section 5A); Standing Committee handles project-level clearances
- SBWL: Chaired by the Chief Minister of the state (Section 6, as amended in 2002)
- Wildlife clearance is mandatory for projects inside or within 10 km of protected areas -- established by Supreme Court directive, implemented through NBWL Standing Committee
- Bengal tiger: IUCN Red List status -- Endangered (listed since 1986); CITES Appendix I; Schedule I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972
Connection to this news: The SBWL's approval is only the state-level step. The proposal must now go to the NBWL Standing Committee for final wildlife clearance. The Bombay High Court's suo motu intervention may influence this process.
Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve and Ghodazari Wildlife Sanctuary
Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve (TATR), Maharashtra's oldest and largest national park, is located in Chandrapur district. Tadoba National Park was established in 1955 (116.54 sq km), and the adjacent Andhari Wildlife Sanctuary was created in 1986. In 1995, the two were merged to form the present tiger reserve with a total area of 625.4 sq km. The 2023 census recorded 93 tigers in TATR.
Ghodazari Wildlife Sanctuary was established on 23 March 2018 in the Nagbhir area of Chandrapur district, covering 159 sq km of southern tropical dry deciduous forest. At least 12 tigers have been recorded in Ghodazari, with additional transient tigers using the corridor.
- TATR: 625.4 sq km total area; established 1955 (National Park), merged as Tiger Reserve in 1995; 93 tigers (2023 census)
- Ghodazari Sanctuary: 159 sq km; established 2018
- National Park (no human activity) vs Wildlife Sanctuary (limited human activity permitted under Section 29) vs Tiger Reserve (core + buffer zone structure)
- Maharashtra's tiger count (2022): approximately 444 (third highest after Madhya Pradesh and Karnataka)
Connection to this news: The mining site in Brahmapuri division lies directly between TATR and Ghodazari Sanctuary. Felling 18,000 trees and operating an open-cast mine would sever this corridor, potentially isolating the ~60 tigers in the region from the larger TATR population.
Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Process for Mining Projects
The EIA Notification, 2006 (issued under Section 3 of the Environment Protection Act, 1986) mandates environmental clearance for mining projects. For non-coal mines, the threshold is: lease area greater than 100 hectares = Category A (central clearance); 100 hectares or less = Category B (state clearance via SEAC/SEIAA). Projects in ecologically sensitive areas require separate wildlife clearance from the NBWL Standing Committee.
- Category A mining (non-coal): >100 ha -- cleared by MoEFCC via Expert Appraisal Committee (EAC)
- Category B mining (non-coal): up to 100 ha -- cleared by SEIAA via SEAC
- Public hearing is mandatory for Category A and B1 projects
- Separate wildlife clearance from NBWL Standing Committee required for projects within or near protected areas
Connection to this news: The 35.95 hectare mining lease falls under Category B, but its location within a tiger corridor independently triggers NBWL wildlife clearance. The dual clearance mechanism was designed precisely for such cases where ecological sensitivity exceeds what project size alone would suggest.
Key Facts & Data
- Mining area: 35.95 hectares of reserved forest in Brahmapuri division, Chandrapur district
- Trees to be felled: over 18,000
- Tigers at risk: approximately 60 in the corridor region
- Jobs to be created: 120 total (only 32 permanent); applicant firm: Sunflag Ltd, Nagpur
- Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve: 625.4 sq km; established 1955 (NP), 1995 (TR); 93 tigers (2023 census)
- Ghodazari Wildlife Sanctuary: 159 sq km; established 23 March 2018
- India's tiger population: 3,682 (2022 All India Tiger Estimation) -- ~70% of global wild tiger population
- Bengal tiger IUCN status: Endangered (since 1986); Schedule I, WPA 1972
- NTCA: Constituted under Section 38L, WPA Amendment 2006
- Bombay HC Nagpur Bench: took suo motu cognizance; next hearing 5 March 2026