📷 Image: Wikimedia Commons / tjabeljan
National
Forest clearance for Panari project threatens Panna‑Ranipur tiger corridor in Madhya Pradesh
✍️ The Indian Express
🗓 11 Nov 2026, 01:16 AM
👁 7
The Ministry of Environment has cleared forest land for the Panari project, raising concerns that the Panna‑Ranipur tiger corridor in Madhya Pradesh could be disrupted.
The central government has granted clearance to the Panari infrastructure project, allowing the removal of forest cover in a stretch that links the Panna and Ranipur tiger reserves in Madhya Pradesh. Environmental groups have warned that the cleared area forms a critical wildlife corridor used by tigers to move between the two protected zones, and that its loss could fragment habitats and increase human‑wildlife conflict.
The Ministry of Environment cited compliance with statutory procedures, but activists point out that the corridor lies within a designated Tiger Reserve buffer and that the clearance bypasses key ecological assessments. The decision has prompted protests from the Madhya Pradesh Forest Department and several NGOs, who have filed petitions seeking a stay on the clearance.
If the forest clearing proceeds, the corridor’s connectivity could be compromised, potentially affecting the already vulnerable tiger population in the region. Authorities have been urged to revisit the clearance and explore alternatives that preserve the ecological link while accommodating development needs.
The issue underscores the broader tension between infrastructure expansion and wildlife conservation in India, especially in states like Madhya Pradesh that host a significant share of the country's tiger habitats.
The Ministry of Environment cited compliance with statutory procedures, but activists point out that the corridor lies within a designated Tiger Reserve buffer and that the clearance bypasses key ecological assessments. The decision has prompted protests from the Madhya Pradesh Forest Department and several NGOs, who have filed petitions seeking a stay on the clearance.
If the forest clearing proceeds, the corridor’s connectivity could be compromised, potentially affecting the already vulnerable tiger population in the region. Authorities have been urged to revisit the clearance and explore alternatives that preserve the ecological link while accommodating development needs.
The issue underscores the broader tension between infrastructure expansion and wildlife conservation in India, especially in states like Madhya Pradesh that host a significant share of the country's tiger habitats.