Jharkhand Cabinet Clears Proposal to Notify Part of Saranda Forest as Wildlife Sanctuary

The Jharkhand Cabinet has approved a proposal to notify a portion of the Saranda forest in West Singhbhum district as a wildlife sanctuary.

Protection of Forest Dwellers’ Rights:

• The government has assured that no forest dwellers will be displaced and that they will continue to enjoy their rights under the Forest Rights Act (FRA) even after the notification.

Supreme Court Context:
The decision comes a day before the state government is set to file an affidavit in an ongoing contempt hearing in the Supreme Court.

• On October 10, the apex court had directed the Jharkhand government to notify the Saranda Wildlife Sanctuary within a week.
• The court clarified that the declaration will not affect existing mining activities, including those carried out by the Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL), in the 31,000-hectare designated area.

About Saranda Forest:

• The word “Saranda” means “seven hundred hills.”
• The Saranda forest division in West Singhbhum district covers about 856 sq km, of which 816 sq km is reserved forest, and the remaining area is protected forest.

Ecological Significance:

• According to the Wildlife Institute of India (WII), Saranda has long been recognised for its rich biodiversity.
• The forest is home to elephants, four-horned antelopes, and sloth bears.
• It currently faces challenges of habitat degradation and fragmentation.
• The region also includes three important elephant corridors, ensuring ecological connectivity with neighbouring forests.

Conservation Significance:
The move to declare Saranda as a wildlife sanctuary is seen as a major step toward conserving Jharkhand’s unique biodiversity while balancing tribal rights and industrial interests.

(Sources: HT & IE)