Preserving Ecosystem: SC Stays Construction of Dams at Kalesar Wildlife Sanctuary

The Supreme Court on Wednesday stayed the construction of four proposed dams within Kalesar Wildlife Sanctuary in Haryana’s Yamunanagar district.

The Bench

Justices B R Gavai and Sandeep Mehta issued notices to the Centre, the Haryana government, and other concerned parties, soliciting their responses.

The apex court observed that the construction of dams would not only harm the wildlife and inhabitants of Kalesar but also disrupt the ecosystem, rendering the intended purposes of the dams unachievable.

“We issue notice. Furthermore, we direct that no measures be taken for the construction of dams unless authorized by this court,” the bench pronounced.

Who Filed the Plea?

The court was addressing a plea filed by advocate Gaurav Bansal, challenging the construction of the Chikan, Kansli, Khillanwala, and Ambawali dams within Kalesar Wildlife Sanctuary, citing adverse impacts on the area’s flora and fauna.

Bansal argued before the court that the National Board for Wildlife sanctioned the dam construction within the sanctuary without heeding the report of the Wildlife Institute of India (WII), which concluded that such dams were unnecessary.

“The WII report, titled ‘Feasibility Study of Proposed Small Dams in Kalesar Wildlife Sanctuary, Haryana,’ explicitly asserts that the proposed dams lie within the protected area boundary of Kalesar Wildlife Sanctuary and would substantially disrupt both terrestrial and aquatic biodiversity within the protected area,” Bansal asserted.

Referring to a letter from the principal chief conservator of forests and chief wildlife warden of Haryana, Bansal pointed out that the proposed dam sites, situated within the sanctuary’s designated boundary, would disturb the current habitat usage patterns of various species.

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