Bhubaneswar: The Standing Committee of the State Wildlife Board (SWB) today approved 14 different proposals including laying of several optical fibers and installation of mobile towers in wildlife areas.
During its meeting held under the chairmanship of Forest, Environment and Climate Change Minister Ganesh Ram Singkhuntia, the SWB cleared the proposals for transmission to the Standing Committee of National Board for Wildlife for obtaining wildlife clearance.
The Minister said that the Forest Department will never be a hindrance while taking steps for the welfare and development of the people.
Among others, Additional Chief Secretary (ACS), Forest, Environment and Climate Change Department, Satyabrata Sahu, Former Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Projects) Dr Ajit Kumar Patnaik, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests and Chief of Forest Force, Suresh Pant and Additional Director General of Police (Crime Branch) Cuttack, Vinayatosh Mishra attended the meeting.
Proposal of diversion of forest/non forest land for optical fibre cable laying from Revana Kha to Talapada for installation of mobile tower at Talapada village under Harichandanpur tahasil of Keonjhar district in 4g saturation project of GoI was approved by the SWB.
Similarly, permission for laying of clear water pipe line along the SH-62 from Jadupur village to Dhandatopa village for execution of individual pipe water supply projects pertaining to 23 GPs of Kishorenagar block & 3 GPs of Athmallik block of Angul district was also approved during the meeting.
Integrated Anandapur barrage project, Salapada, Keonjhar falling in Hadgarh sanctuary and Kuldiha sanctuary, laying of optical fibre cable under 4g in Satkosia Tiger Reserve, protection to Mahanadi right bank near Badmulpatna of Gania block including construction of three numbers spurs in Satkosia Tiger Reserve, construction of community/skill upgradation vocational training centre at Dhekunpani under Sunabeda sanctuary were also got nod from the Wildlife Board,
Besides, installation of mobile tower at villages Jalmandei, Lodhra rptr & Dhekunpani, optical fiber cable connectivity of Jalmandei cell site in Sunabeda sanctuary, installation of mobile tower in Sunabeda sanctuary, proposal for diversion of 0.147 ha of forest land for construction of 33 kv underground feeder starting from OPTCL in Chandaka Dampara sanctuary, and laying of optical fibre cable in Satkosia Tiger Reserve were also approved today.
The Board has also given green signal for installation of mobile towers in Satkosia Tiger Reserve.
In its ninth meeting of the Standing Committee of the State Wildlife Board held in December 2023, four proposals were sent to the National Wildlife Board. Installation of 34 Mobile Towers by BSNL under 4G Saturation Project of Govt of India in Mayurbhanj District in buffer zone of Similipal Tiger Reserve was recommended to National Board for Wildlife. Site visit was done by NTCA Team and 12 towers were approved, officials said.
Installation of Mobile Tower by BSNL under 4G Saturation Project of Govt of India in Keonjhar District in one village in Hadgarh Sanctuary was recommended to National Board for Wildlife and it was approved by NBWL.
Development of Ro-Pax Jetty and allied infrastructure at Talchua in Kendrapara District was recommended to the National Board for Wildlife, which was also approved by NBWL.
Laying of Optical Fibre Cable (OFC) within RoW through Karlapat Sanctuary was recommended to the National Board for Wildlife. It was approved by NBWL.