As India keeps on developing new expressways, demand for the green passages is also growing. Environmentalists claim that the speedy vehicles are killing a number of wild animals everyday, as there are a few or no provisions for their safe passage across the roads. This is clearly a denial of basic right to wildlife.
On any fine morning, a travel on NH9 from Delhi towards Moradabad may turn unpleasant as you will find at least a squirrel, jackal or a fox killed on the highway by the speeding vehicles. The NH9 passing through Hastinapur Wildlife sanctuary is spread over 2,073 square kilometre area and intersects Garhmukteshwar (Hapur) and Gajraula (Amroha). Also, a rail track passes through this sanctuary as well as State highway 51 and some local roads. The speedy traffic on these roads has posed a regular threat to the wildlife and the conservators.
Speeding vehicles aren’t killing the wildlife only on this stretch. The Delhi-based Wildlife Protection Society of India (WPSI) claims that the road and train accidents have killed at least 83 leopards around the country last year, the highest (22) in Maharashtra. Also, thousands of mammals, birds, amphibians and reptiles are losing their lives in similar conditions.
Though, the Government has different claims. Union Minister of Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari in July 2021 informed the Lok Sabha that no incident of animal death in road accident happened during the last three years. Environmentalists may have the different opinion, but one thing is clear, we don’t have safe passages for our animals, even in reserved areas.
However, NH-44 is an exception where after the intervention by the Bombay High Court, the National Highways Authority of India constructed nine underpasses. These underpasses or the wildlife crossings were constructed between Kanha & Pench tiger reserves. On rail track there are several corridors identified across India for passage of elephants and efforts are on to construct safe crossings.
What are wildlife crossings?
Wildlife crossings or the safe passages aren’t a new concept. Around the globe roads are often designed to provide cave-like, concrete underpasses, overpasses, ducts, amphibian tunnels, culverts and the green roofs. These options are provided after taking into consideration the type of animals, birds, or the flies inhabiting the region. Often the underpasses are fitted with CCTV cameras, so that the movement of animals can be monitored. Wildlife crossings were first envisioned in European countries and in the 1950s the first animal bridge was built in France. It is considered a first infrastructure solution to ensure safe passage to wild animals. Nowadays such crossings are hugely popular in countries like Germany, Netherlands Canada, and the USA.
In our neighbourhood, Nepal has started building such corridors for the road safety and conservation of its wildlife.
Why do we need safe passages?
The idea of wildlife crossings is not only to avoid the human-animal conflict, but also to conserve wildlife. Their demand is on the rise as the human-made barriers like canals, electric power lines, roads and railroads continue to penetrate and divide wildlife habitats. With human population growing, pressure is increasing on jungles and the wildlife. Though, there is no exact data regarding the animals killed in road accidents in India, the figures mentioned in various reports are alarming. Data from the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC), Government of India, suggest, that 186 elephants were killed on rail tracks across India during the last ten years.
Similarly, WPSI says leopard deaths in train and road accidents have increased over the past 10 years. There has been around 278 per cent rise in such accidents from 2010 to 2019. News reports suggest that during 2021, at least 3 tigers were killed in road accidents. We can only say the developmental activities on either side of roads/rail tracks have increased the problem for bio-conservators.
The technical issue
India has the second largest road network in the world and it is growing at a fast pace. Our roads are being upgraded and we are adding more and more lanes. Sometimes, there are eight to ten lanes which makes impossible for the animals to cross the roads without a collision with vehicles. It is sad that we are not only depriving our wild with safe passages, but also building railings and dividers on our highways/expressways to make their movement difficult. These railings and dividers result in a trap, creating the chances of more accidents. This is not only dangerous for the wild animals but also for the commuters. Along with the wild, menace of stray animals left by their owners is a big threat for road safety.
Viability of wildlife corridors in India
Studies suggest the wildlife crossings not only save wild animals but also make the roads safer for human beings, though, they make the roads little costlier. Sometimes, dried up brooks, drains and rivers provide respite but they aren’t available everywhere. In the recent times when all the roads are turned into a paid facility through tolls, this investment should be worthwhile. In recent days, there have been a lot of talks regarding the wildlife corridors on Indian roads. Though the demands, claims and the announcements have not brought a big change in the situation as we may have so many excuses for not bringing forth change, in reality, these passages are eventually need of the hour not only for our wildlife but also for the safety of commuters. We should learn to live with our wild and should also learn to honour their rights.
(The writer is a journalist and teaches as a guest faculty at Delhi School of Journalism, University of Delhi)
