Maharashtra Approves New Wildlife Sanctuaries in Kolamarka and Tansa

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Key takeaways

The Maharashtra government approved turning Kolamarka into a sanctuary and expanding Tansa Wildlife Sanctuary by 588.767 hectares across 6 villages.
Sanctuaries are governed under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, requiring 60 days for settling land claims under Section 21 to 25.
Changing any wildlife sanctuary boundary strictly requires permission from the National Board for Wildlife (NBWL) under Section 26A(3).
Kolamarka Conservation Reserve protects genetically pure populations of the endangered Asiatic Wild Water Buffalo near the Indravati Tiger Reserve.
Tansa Wildlife Sanctuary protects key water reservoirs for Mumbai and shelters over 54 mammal species and 250 bird species, including the Forest Owlet.

The Maharashtra State Board for Wildlife (SBWL) recently approved key environmental proposals.
The board decided to declare the Kolamarka Conservation Reserve as a official wildlife sanctuary.
It also approved expanding the existing boundary of the Tansa Wildlife Sanctuary.

A wildlife sanctuary is a protected space set aside to safeguard wild animals, plants, and birds.
The Chief Wildlife Warden can permit limited human activities like regulated grazing and forest produce collection.
However, these allowed activities must never harm the local wildlife population or their surrounding habitat.

These protected areas are governed under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, updated in 2022.
Under Section 18, the State Government first issues an initial notification identifying an ecologically rich area.
Under Section 19, a local Collector checks existing land rights claimed by nearby residents.
Under Sections 21 to 25, the Collector gives people 60 days to submit claims before resolving them.
Under Section 26A, the state issues a final notification to formally create the wildlife sanctuary.
Under Section 26A(3), changing sanctuary boundaries requires approval from the National Board for Wildlife (NBWL).

This reserve is located in the Gadchiroli district of Maharashtra near the Indravati Tiger Reserve.
It protects the endangered Asiatic Wild Water Buffalo, including one of Central India's few pure genetic groups.
It serves as a vital interstate corridor linking wildlife habitats in Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, and Telangana.
The area features dry deciduous forests, bamboo thickets, and grasslands fed by the Pranhita and Indravati rivers.

This sanctuary spreads across the Thane and Palghar districts near the foothills of the Western Ghats.
It protects water catchments for the Tansa, Vaitarna, and Modak Sagar reservoirs supplying drinking water to Mumbai.
The approved proposal adds 588.767 hectares across 6 villages to expand the sanctuary core.
The forest shelters over 54 mammal species and 250 bird species, including the endangered Forest Owlet.