Rajkot: Wildlife activists have strongly opposed a proposed mining lease for a cement company in the Babarkot reserve forest in Amreli district, warning that the project could severely damage wildlife habitat and the ecology of the Gir region.Wildlife photographer and former member of the State Board for Wildlife, Bhushan Pandya, has written to chief minister Bhupendra Patel urging the govt to reject the proposal.According to Pandya, the project involves diversion of 75.94 hectares of reserve forest land in the Gir East forest division, an important habitat for Asiatic lions and other wildlife.In his representation, Pandya stated, “Approving the land diversion for this project would permanently destroy a crucial habitat for Asiatic lions, leopards and numerous other wildlife species.”Forest department data cited in the representation reportedly shows that the proposed mining zone is home to 40 to 50 lions, including cubs and subadults.A wildlife enthusiast, requesting anonymity, said the mining activity would permanently damage lion habitat and increase human-animal conflict in the region.“This is a crucial wildlife movement corridor. Mining will lead to disturbance, pollution and accidental deaths of wild animals,” the wildlife lover said.The representation further states that the area has been identified in the management plan of Gir National Park as an important coastal forest and Asiatic lion corridor.Environmentalists also alleged that the project would require the felling of nearly 5,000 mature trees, which they say would violate provisions of the Forest Conservation Act, 1980.Activists warned of long-term ecological consequences, including salinity ingress that could permanently damage nearby agricultural land.Environmental activist, Rohit Prajapati said the issue extends beyond a small forest patch.“This is not just about a limited area. It will adversely affect the entire ecosystem of the Gir region. Mining will pollute the environment, destroy wildlife habitat and affect the coastal ecology,” he said.Wildlife lovers also argued that the proposal appears to violate observations and judgments of the Supreme Court which aimed at protecting wildlife corridors from disruptive human activity.Some forest officials have reportedly expressed concern over the project. A senior forest officer, who asked not to be named, said that mining would create significant environmental disturbance despite the relatively small size of the land parcel.“This may look like a small patch, but it will cause major disturbance and pollution and affect the environment. However, the central govt has already granted clearance, and the state govt is likely to approve the project,” the officer said.Ram Ratan Nala, conservator of forests, Junagadh wildlife circle, could not be contacted for comment.Mining could worsen human-wildlife conflictWildlife experts fear that destruction of the Babarkot habitat could trigger a sharp rise in human-wildlife conflict in the Gir region. At present, lions in the area survive with minimal conflict due to the availability of prey such as nilgai and wild boar. However, activists warn that mining operations could disrupt key wildlife corridors connecting Dhari, Rajula and Jafrabad, forcing lions to migrate toward Pipavav. Such displacement, they argue, may push lions closer to railway tracks and human settlements, increasing the risk of fatal train accidents and clashes with local communities.
