Headline - Kalesar Wildlife Sanctuary Secured: SC Halts Dam Construction

Supreme Court halts construction of four dams within Haryana's Kalesar Wildlife Sanctuary, citing environmental concerns and potential ecosystem damage. The court emphasized that the dams would harm wildlife, population, and the ecosystem. Despite permission from the National Board for Wild Life, the Wildlife Institute of India's report indicates that the dams are unnecessary. The court issued notices to the Centre and Haryana government and ordered a stay on construction until further notice.

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

A bench of justices B R Gavai and Sandeep Mehta issued notices to the Centre, the Haryana government, and others while seeking their replies.

The top court noted that the construction of dams will not only be detrimental to wildlife and population in Kalesar but also to the ecosystem and even the purpose for which the dams are proposed would not be achieved.

''Issue notice. We further direct that no steps shall be taken for construction of dams unless an order is passed by this court,'' the bench said.

The top court was hearing a plea filed by advocate Gaurav Bansal against the construction of four dams Chikan, Kansli, Khillanwala, and Ambawali within Kalesar Wildlife Sanctuary as it will hurt the flora and the fauna in the area.

Bansal submitted before the apex court that the National Board for Wild Life has granted permission to construct dams inside the wildlife sanctuary without taking cognizance of the report of the Wildlife Institute of India (WII) which says that there is no need of such dams.

''WII has categorically stated in its report namely 'Feasibility Study of Proposed Small Dams in Kalesar Wildlife Sanctuary, Haryana' that the proposed dams are under protected area boundary of Kalesar Wildlife Sanctuary and as such would significantly affect the terrestrial as well as aquatic biodiversity of the protected area,'' Bansal submitted.

Referring to a letter by the principal chief conservator of forests and chief wildlife warden, Haryana, Bansal said he has stated that the proposed dam sites which are located in the notified boundary of the sanctuary will affect the existing pattern of habitat use of various species.

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