Umred-Karhandla wildlife sanctuary locks up Gold mining prospects
SPECIAL REPORT Sudden declaration of wildlife sanctuary locks up mineral deposits worth Rs 10,000 crore * The case highlights how different Government departments work in isolation By Kartik Lokhande Passion at the cost of rationality, and working in isolation both harm the larger public interest if these things are related to the Government departments. In one such case, sudden declaration of Umred-Karhandla wildlife sanctuary in Nagpur district has locked up exploration of mineral wealth worth a whopping Rs 10,000 crore! On June 26, 2012, Maharashtra Government published a gazette notification vide which parts of Nagpur and Bhandara districts were clubbed to form new Umred-Karhandla wildlife sanctuary. As per the Forest Department notification, it broadly comprises Kitadi (Rithi), Ranbodi, Wanoda, Nawagaon villages of Nagpur district and Parsodi, Khapri, Jogikheda (Rithi), Chichgaon (Rithi) villages in Bhandara district. The total area of this wildlife sanctuary...