21 April,2026 09:06 AM IST | Mumbai | Ranjeet Jadhav
Representational Image
In a move that could significantly alter a critical wildlife corridor, the Maharashtra Forest Department has recommended excluding certain villages from the proposed tiger corridor in the Sahyadri Tiger Reserve under the draft Tiger Conservation Plan (TCP). This comes after local representatives demanded to remove these villages from the TCP and Eco Sensitive Zone, which the experts believe would be a disaster for wildlife.
The recommendation covers multiple villages in Shahuwadi and Panhala talukas of Kolhapur district areas, considered important for maintaining landscape connectivity for the big cats.
The Sahyadri Tiger Reserve where a tiger corridor has been proposed. PICS/BY SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT
The draft TCP is currently pending approval before the NTCA and is scheduled to be considered by its Technical Committee on April 21. The state has requested that these recommendations be taken up during the meeting, noting that they are based on representations from public representatives as well as inputs from forest officials.
From Shahuwadi tehsil, the villages listed include Burambal, Panundre, Shirale Tarf Malkapur, Sonurle, Mhalasavade, Ambarde, Patwade, Man, Ukoli, Parkandale, Mandwalkarwadi, Darewadi, Parali, Ghunger, and Pashvi (Kelewadi & Khotwadi). From Panhala tehsil, Bandiwade and Kaneri have been proposed for exclusion.
In a letter dated April 17 to the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA), Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife) M Srinivasa Reddy cited representations from MLAs Vinay Kore and Satyajeet Deshmukh, along with Lok Sabha MP Dhairyasheel Mane. The public representatives have sought excluding certain villages from the notified corridor and a "rationalisation" of its boundaries.
Wildlife conservationist Kedar Gore from the Corbett Foundation said, "It is indeed shocking that the exclusion of villages is being considered from the identified tiger corridor under the Tiger Conservation Plan. This area is extremely crucial for tiger dispersal from STR to Radhanagari WLS. Some areas also form parts of Vishalgad Conservation Reserve and Masai Pathar Conservation Reserve. The decision to exclude villages seems to be pushed to benefit the mining lobby. I hope the NTCA rejects this demand and upholds the ecological integrity of STR and its surrounding tiger habitat."
Honorary Wildlife Warden Rohan Bhate said, "The Forest land is an important habitat in the corridor as tiger movements have been reported in these villages. A tiger trail exists connecting the Radhanagari Wildlife Sanctuary to the Sahyadri Tiger Reserve. On the other hand, Radhanagari Wildlife Sanctuary is home to breeding tigers. This tiger corridor is important for the northern migration. Moreover, these villages are also included in the âChandoli-Radhanagari-Goa' tiger route. In such a situation, if any mining is carried out in the vicinity, it may have serious effects on the bypass."
Based on the letter from local leaders, the state has separately urged the Centre to exclude parts of Shahuwadi taluka from the draft Eco-Sensitive Area notification of the Western Ghats, raising concerns over a possible dilution of environmental safeguards in ecologically sensitive zones.
