Mumbai, 26 Oct (HS): Kolmarka forest in Gadchiroli district and Tansa Wildlife

Sanctuary in Thane-Palghar districts have been declared National Wildlife

Sanctuaries by the State Government. Kolmarka forest is known for Wild Buffaloes

(Bubulus arnee), which is one of the endangered wildlife in the country. Tansa

spread near Tansa River in Thane and Palghar districts in Sahyadri Mountain

region is rich in wildlife and needs protection.

The

decision to announce the two sanctuaries was taken during a meeting chaired by

Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, with Maharashtra State Wildlife Board on

Monday. The Additional Chief Secretary of Forest Department Sanjay Khandare,

PCCF M Shrinivas, Forest Minister Ganesh Naik, PCCF (Wildlife) Shrinivas Reddi

and other officers attended the meeting on virtual mode.

The

two proposals were accepted by the Board, along with 14 other proposals in

Pune, Raigad, Nashik, Nandurbar, Thane, Palghar and Chandrapur districts.

Proposal

for acquiring 588.767 hectare of revevnue land for expalnsion of Tansa

sanctuary was also accepted. Proposals of acquiring additional land for Koka

wildlife sanctuary in Bhandara district and Jaikwadi Bird Sanctuary was

accepted.

Wild

Buffaloes are about 4,000 in the world, of which 80% to 90% are in India

Proposals

of desilting of dams, rehabilitation of projects-affected people etc were also

discussed during the meeting.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Ajay Vasant Mardikar