This section is an attempt to evaluate the impacts of the proposed Project on the wildlife habitat and their values. The process of evaluation is based on the a straightforward approach of relating the sources of the Project induced stress on ecological parameters that form the basis for characterization of the status of the habitat availability for use by animals and their suitability for facilitating animal ranging across TATR, the adjoining forests and between forested habitats in the forest ranges outside the TATR.

4.1 Impacts of the submergence area on the habitat and animal use
The Project would require 7651.40 ha of land in the following three categories namely, forest land (1925.55 ha), private land (5089.11 ha) and revenue land (636.74 ha). The forest land comprises the Reserved Forests (1292.58 ha), Protected Forests (480.33 ha) and Zudpi Jungle (162.64 ha). Of the total 1925.55 ha of forest land under submergence, clear felling of forest would be restricted to 763.54 ha largely in the Reserved Forests. The forests in the proposed submergence area are presently subjected to high biotic pressures due to the presence of several villages in its surrounds. Although, these forests do not support significant wild animal populations, yet they are used by large and wide ranging predators (tiger and leopard) for movement towards the Human river, the only major source of water in this landscape.

The Project will submerge 4109.11 ha of private land and 528.00 ha of revenue land. This would necessitate the rehabilitation of 23 villages located in the zones of complete and partial submergence in the post Project scenario. It is learnt from Project authorities that a rehabilitation package has been proposed for 23 villages located in the zones of in the Project affected villages and that the evacuated area under these villages would be transferred to the Maharashtra Forest Department. This area could be considered as a potential habitat for wild animals. The creation of a reservoir due to submergence would bring about the transformation of a part of terrestrial habitat to a large wetland. Further, this transformation would create a wetland habitat of variable spread due to fluctuating water levels. The draw down areas would become transformed to fringe habitat supporting good grassy patches surrounding the reservoir. Through appropriate management inputs, the use of these diverse habitats in the proposed submergence could be enhanced and managed in favor of diverse species including the prey species of predators.

4.2 Impacts on the forest area en route the dam axis
The Project envisages construction of a 3172 m long Rolled Filled Earthen Dam, with a maximum height of 27 m for ensuring optimum technical feasibility and economic viability of the Project. The dam seat would lead to clear felling of 35.09 ha of forest land. The forest along the dam axis are a mix of dry deciduous forests, dense scrub jungle and evidently are moderately used by ungulates species as well as predators like tiger and leopard.

The construction of the dam and spillways are likely to induce physical disturbances due to large scale movement of workforce and heavy materials in the forest tract, may impair the use and impede the movement of animals specially during the day time. The magnitude and the duration of this impact on wildlife habitat use and animal movement would be largely dependent on the duration of the construction phase which is presently indicated to extend up to 10 years.

4.3 Impacts on downstream forest corridor
Currently, the Reserved Forest Compartment Nos. 232, 47 and 48 that would subsequently become downstream compartments form a critical link for animal movement especially large carnivores (tigers) between Chandrapur and Bramhapuri Forest Division. The section of the proposed dam site is also located in Compartment 232 and of the total area of 227.43 ha under this compartment, an area of 126.43 ha will be diverted for submergence (87.37 ha); dam seat (21.06 ha) and tail channel (18.00 ha). Similarly of the 220.15 ha of area under Forest Compartment 47, a total of 112.94 ha would be diverted for submergence (98.74 ha) and for dam seat (14.00 ha). Further, the forest area in Compartment Nos. 232 and 47 would be subjected to physical disturbances of varied levels during the construction phase of the Project. It is reiterated that, the integrity and habitat quality of the forest area under the compartments – RF 232 & 47 are critical for ensuring ranging opportunities for wild animals specially the wide ranging carnivores such as the tiger between Chandrapur and Bramhapuri Forest Divisions. Further, the adjoining Sirkada Protected Forest (279.58 ha), Sioni Protected Forest (107.99 ha) and Sirkada Zudpi (81.07 ha) can be potential areas for ranging of wild animals. Ensuring protection of these areas through adequate measures is considered a paramount responsibility of the Project authorities.

4.4 Impacts on the forest area under the Left Bank Canal
Although the present alignment of the LBC is based on sound engineering practice, it has not fully incorporated the ecological considerations as the initial 1.5 km long section of canal is aligned through the Reserved Forests. This cement-concrete linear structure will inevitably lead to fragmentation of wildlife habitats and disruption in wild animal ranging opportunities in the area falling under Compartment No. 232. These forests support a number of ungulate species (chital, sambar, nilgai & chowsingha, wild pigs) and are used by large predators such as (tiger, leopard). The presence of sloth bear and hyaena is also evident. The impacts of the Project in this stretch of forest are likely to be significant.

4.5 Impacts on forest area between TATR western boundary and the proposed submergence
The shortest distance between the western boundary of TATR and the proposed submergence is about 3.2 km. The area is dominated by villages and agricultural fields and forests are under intense pressure for fuel wood collection and livestock grazing and therefore offer limited habitat values. Nevertheless, this area evidently is used by wild animals for accessing the Human river and water sources. During the dry spells, the receding flow in the river and non-availability of other perennial water sources, the animals are forced to move through this tract. This movement is however expectedly impaired due to interspersed villages and agricultural fields. The proposed Project would lead to the relocation of these villages and would thus significantly enhance ranging opportunities and habitat use in an area free of human presence and recovering habitat values. The draw down area would become an extended seasonal wildlife habitat, provided that such areas do not become available or released for cultivation.

4.6 Impacts of Right Bank Canal on the forest habitat and wild animal use
A substantial section of the Right Bank Canal is aligned along the already operational Naleshwar canal (Plate 9), thereby reducing the need to divert additional forests, revenue and private lands for the construction of service roads and other infrastructure. The alignment of the proposed RBC is outside forests areas and it is probable that this canal would not disrupt already existing limited wild animal movements in the landscape. Therefore, this has not been dealt with further in this report.

Plate 9