NTCA Warns Madhya Pradesh Dam Project May Submerge Key Tiger Corridor.

The National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) has raised concerns over the proposed Morand-Ganjal Irrigation Project in Madhya Pradesh, warning that the construction of two dams could submerge crucial forested areas used by tigers to migrate between reserves. The authority has strongly recommended exploring alternative sites to prevent ecological damage, according to government records.

The Environment Ministry's Forest Advisory Committee (FAC) recently reviewed a proposal to divert 2,250 hectares of forest land for the project. The plan involves building dams on the Morand and Ganjal rivers to improve irrigation in Hoshangabad, Betul, Harda, and Khandwa districts.

However, the NTCA has cautioned that the project site falls within a critical tiger habitat, playing a key role in linking the Satpura and Melghat Tiger Reserves. Disrupting this corridor could impact tiger movement, genetic diversity, and overall population stability, it said.

"Any disruption to this ecological connectivity will likely have long-term detrimental impacts on the viability of tiger populations and the broader wildlife community within this landscape," the NTCA stated.

Beyond its impact on wildlife, the project is expected to displace 644 families, including 604 tribal families, who rely on the forest for their livelihood. It will also lead to the loss of over seven lakh trees, with 5.75 lakh trees marked for felling at the full reservoir level.

The FAC has flagged inconsistencies in the Madhya Pradesh government’s compensatory afforestation plan, noting that some proposed sites are already classified as forest land, while others contain settlements and agricultural fields. The state government has yet to submit detailed revenue records to verify the land status.

A sub-committee, including representatives from the NTCA, environment ministry, and soil conservation experts, has been tasked with conducting a site inspection before a final decision is made.

ET