The Parbati-Kalisindh-Chambal (PKC) River Link Project is an inter-state river linking project proposed on the principal of commonly sharing water resources for irrigation, drinking and industrial utilization in Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh. This particular project has elicited enormous concern over the environment with regard to the Ranthambore Tiger Reserve.
The PKC project is furthering, which envisages transferring water from the Parbati, Kalisindh, and Chambal rivers to supply water deficit 23 districts of Rajasthan. While the project promises to be a lifeline for these regions, it also entails the submergence of approximately 37 square kilometres of the Ranthambore Tiger Reserve. This could politically partition the reserve into two areas, quite strategically to destabilize the natural habitat of flora and fauna in the area; not forgetting the pride of Indian fauna, the Royal Bengal Tiger.
One of the largest and most well-known tiger reserves in central India and it is located at the meeting points of the Vindhya and Aravalli hills. It is a home for wide variety of flora & fauna, like Tigers, leopards, wild boar, sloth bear & rhesus macaque. The reserve also has the Ranthambore Fort which forms part of the World Heritage Site.
Critics from the environmentalist’s wings and wildlife conservationists have also came out strongly against the project claiming that submerging of such a large area within a tiger reserve shall prove disastrous for the ecology of the region. They highlight the general principles on environmental impact assessment and regional features, and call for the importance of exploring other solution that would not negatively affect this important habitat.
While the critics say that the company stands to gain hugely from the PKC River Link Project at the expense of the environment, the proponents argue that the vice versa is true. They point at the prospects for the use of the project to solve the deficit of fresh water in the region, to increase the yield of agricultural crops, and to develop industrial activity. It is hoped that the project will produce 4,100 Million Cubic meter (MCM) of water for Rajasthan and 3,000 MCM for Madhya Pradesh.
The matter at PKC River Link Project raises issues of a positive correlation between physical development and environmental conservation. It will be advisable for key stakeholders involved in implementing this project to critically consider appropriate recommendations that can be used in minimizing the effects that this project will have on the Ranthambore Tiger Reserve and those who reside in it. This involves integrating an effective system of conservation measures, elaborated environmental impact studies and participation of communities and interest groups in seeking relevant solutions.
Therefore the Pakistan Kuwait Cement Ruby River Link Project may help and alleviate water shortage and boost the economy of Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh but it also put some danger to the environment. 37 square kilometres of the Ranthambore Tiger Reserve may be submerged in future, considering the urgent planning and development of alternatives for affecting the least harm to the ecosystem possible. Equitable development of the project and conservation of the tiger reserve will be another important consideration in the sustainable development objectives process.
Ranthambore National Park
It is a big and famous park of the countrty. It covers an area around 1334sq km in the Sawai-Madhopur district of south-eastern Rajasthan, the park falls at the boundary of Aravalli and Vindhya hill systems. This geographical location makes it have a distinctive physical environment of slopes of hills, rocky crests, and valleys of steep forests.
It was constituted as the Sawai Madhopur Game Sanctuary in 1955 by the Indian Government and subsequently as one of the Project Tiger reserves in 1973. That area has been granted a status of a national park since 1980. The Ranthambore Fort, which is located inside the park and is said to be as ancient as the eleventh century, is where the parks name came from. The fort being a World Heritage Centre enriches the park with a historical and cultural value.
Ranthambore has a good number of Bengal tigers thereby known as one of the better places in India to spot a tiger. This is due to the fact that the park has many different environmental species of plants and animals. Apart from Tiger visiters can sight leopards, sloth bear, hyenas, jackals and several types of dears like sambars and chitals. The park is also multiples of feathered creatures, and this makes it an ideal place for bird watching. This place has rich record of avifaunal population; some of the prominent ones are crested serpent eagle, quail and also the migratory birds.
The dry deciduous woods that make up the majority of the park's vegetation are dominated by dhok trees (Anogeissus pendula). All these trees are well suited to the climatic conditions of the region which include a semi-arid climatic condition. Others of the vegetation are banyan trees, pipal trees, mango trees Etc. The three main lakes in the park which include Padam Talao, Rajbagh Talao and Malik Talao also serve the purpose of water for the wildlife.
Ranthambore Tiger Reserve has lot to do with the preservation of tigers across the country. The forest of the park offers special protection under project tiger and hence it has recorded significant numbers of tigers over the years. The strategies undertaken are anti- poaching, physical environment protection as well as community initiatives. The park authorities also engage the local people in order to adopt friendly practices in the park so that any conservation measures that are put in places are sustainable and benefit both the tourism industry as well as the park.
The major issue that affects the park is human-wildlife conflict. Since the valley savannah is located adjacent to the villages and agriculture land, cases of human–wildlife interaction of the tigers and other wild animals are likely to occur and may lead to conflict. In order to reduce this conflict the following measures are employed; awareness campaigns, livestock compensation and the establishment of no take zones.
Tourism is an essential factor in the management of Ranthambore National Park because most of the proceeds obtained are used to fund the park. Depending on the type of the vehicle, visitors are able to move across various territories of the park in pickups; the jeeps, or canter which are used to provide the tourists regular visits to different zones of the park in order to observe the animals in their natural surroundings. Tour planning for the park is from October to June while the busiest time for tourists is from November to April.
But at the same time, there are opportunities to get acquainted with the cultural tourism, including a visit to the historical Ranthambore Fort or indigenous villages. This is a hill top fort, which over looks almost the whole park with a historical touch with temples and monuments.
Threat to Ranthambore National Park: The PKC River Link Project
The Parbati-Kalisindh-Chambal (PKC) River Link Project is a challenging project intended to target the problem of scarcity of water and increased food production in the states of Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh. However, this project has the following risks associated with the Ranthambore National Park, one of the leading tiger reserves in India.
Effects of Ranthambore National Park Environment
Ranthambore National Park is situated in the Sawai–Madhopur district of Rajasthan and is an essential and the resting place for the tiger and varieties of fauna. The proposed PKC project involves the diversion of water from the Parbati, Kalisindh and Chambal rivers and an area of around 37sq km of the park is likely to be submerged. This submergence also threatens to alter the current geographic distribution of habitats negatively as it may well result in the division of the tiger population.
Dispersal of habitats as a result of submergence would likely split populations of animals and make it impossible for those in some regions to access food, water or mates. This situation can result in increased inbreeding and poor genetic variation meaning any disease or changes in the species. Further, the reduction in fresh forest area and changes made in courses of water may begin reaching the prey species which in turn will decline the prospects of tigers and other predators.
Disruption of the Ecosystem
It could be also pointed out that flooding of a large area of the park would create certain difficulties in terms of the free movement of wild animals. Organisms such as tiger are known to depend on definite and fixed bases for hunting and reproduction. Change of those territories could cause increase in animosity between the animals since they are likely to quarrel due to scarce resources. In addition, the habitats of most natural resources may be destroyed leading to relocation of the wild animals and birds into human domiciled areas hence increasing cases of human wild life encounters.
Impact on Local Communities
The social aspect of the PKC project shows its relevance for the development of the communities. The people residing close to Ranthambore National Park mostly have income sources from eco-tourism. Parkland immersion and decline in population numbers, hence, could harm a region’s tourism industry, the resultant decrease in income and employment. Also, more so there are chances that people will be endangered in cases of human wildlife interactions undermining safety in farming.
Mitigating the Threats
To address the threats posed by the PKC River Link Project, several measures should be considered:
- Comprehensive Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA): It is advisable to consider specific recommendations on the likely ecological, social facts and their economic costs after an accurate EIA. This assessment, it is proposed, should involve environmentalists, conservationists, and representatives of the local people in order to fully canvass all the concerns.
- Alternative Solutions: Analyze other options that will reduce the interaction with environment within the vicinity of Ranthambore National Park. This could involve enhancement of water supply as well as improving other existing water uses such as management techniques and applications, and encouraging ecological agricultural activities within the specified area.
- Habitat Restoration and Conservation: Support rehabilitation of habitat and ecosystems both inside and outside the park in anyway. This ranges from developing wildlife connectivity roads to ease the movement and dispersal of wildlife, from planting new trees in areas where forests have been eliminated due to various factors.
- Community Engagement: Educating local communities in the importance of conservation and offering them the opportunity to begin sustainable living. This may include the promotion of environmentally sustainable tourism, employment avails for other forms of livelihood, compensation for loss resulting from human/wildlife interface.
- Strengthening Legal Protections: Make sure that legal standards for Ranthambore National Park and other protected areas are effectively and without compromise complied. This entails ensuring that none of the country’s forest is encroached; no logging activities from the country’s forests and forests are well protected from poachers.
The River link project is expected to deal with the problem of water scarcity and support economic development and diversification though it must be pointed out that development and conservation of the environment must go hand in hand. Thus, the threat which close to 37 sq. kilometres within the total area of the Ranthambore National Park is facing currently is a great danger to the entire park, its inhabitants and to the Communities living around the area. The analysing of the threats that exist, revealing the opportunities for solving them, participation in the assessment of environmental impacts and using the methods for the habitat restoration and conservation, one can reduce the threats’ impacts and guarantee further successful development of the project as well as the conservation of the tiger reserve area. The proper management of development and nature is central for the protection of India’s natural resources for the future generations.