Activists urge PM to cancel approval of 7-km-long road in Raj

Wildlife activists here have written a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi requesting him to cancel the approval of seven-km long elevated road in Mukundra Hills National Park and Tiger Reserve on NH-12 near Durra.
In the letter written to Modi, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari and 15 other ministries, Mission Tiger Land and Lakes Society, an activist group, has instead proposed construction of a tunnel.
Construction of an elevated road with or without fencing on both sides would adversely affect the habitation and movement of tigers in the reserve, said Vaishali Sharma, president, Mission Tiger Land and Lakes Society.
Elevated roads act as barrier to the free movements of wild animals and divides the habitat into two parts as it has happened previously, she said.

Even now the Mumbai-Delhi railway line and NH 12 divide the Mukundra Hills National Park and Tiger Reserve into two parts and are responsible for the deaths of many wild animals including tiger.
The activists have suggested that a new proposal be drawn for construction of a tunnel instead.
According to the mission's secretary Vijay Salwan, the concerned officials should act for the cancellation of approval of the elevated road as the survey work for its construction has begun.
Rajasthan bagged its third tiger reserve in form of Mukundra Hills Tiger Reserve in 2013 from National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA).