Kalesar WLS

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Context:

• SC stays construction of 4 dams inside Kalesar Wildlife Sanctuary.

Details of the rulings

• The Supreme Court issued a stay on the construction of four proposed dams within the Kalesar Wildlife Sanctuary in Haryana's Yamunanagar district.
• The court observed that the construction of dams would harm wildlife, local populations, and the ecosystem.
• It was noted that the proposed dams might not even serve their intended purpose.
• The ruling came after Advocate Gaurav Bansal filed a plea against the construction, citing negative impacts on flora and fauna.
• Bansal argued that the National Board for Wild Life approved the dams without considering a report from the Wildlife Institute of India (WII) which deemed the dams unnecessary.

Expert Opinions:

• The WII report highlighted that the proposed dams would significantly affect the biodiversity of the sanctuary.
• The principal chief conservator of forests and chief wildlife warden of Haryana also expressed concerns about the dams' impact on habitat use patterns of various species.

Abut Kalesar National Park:

• It is situated in the Yamunanagar District of Haryana.
• It occupies a location in the foothills of the Shiwalik ranges of the Himalayas.
• The park attained its status as a National Park on 8th December 2003.

Borders:

• To its east, the park is bordered by the River Yamuna.
• Northeast of the park lies the Rajaji National Park, situated in Uttrakhand.
• To the north, the park shares a border with Himachal Pradesh, where the Simbalbara National Park is nestled in the Shivalik Hills.
• The western boundary of the park is marked by the Morni Hills.

History:

• The park derives its name from the Kalesar Mahadev temple located within its premises.
• Historically, the park served as hunting grounds for rulers during the Mughal and British Raj periods.
• The park features colonial-era Dak bungalows, which serve as administrative architectural structures. 

Natural vegetation:

• The park's vegetation predominantly consists of tall and dense sal trees, with other species like Semul, Bahera, Amaltas, Shisham, Khair, Sain, Chhal, and Jhingan also present.

Fauna:

• The fauna of the park includes several threatened species such as leopards, Ghoral, Barking deer, Sambar, Chital, Python, King Cobra, and Monitor lizard.

Source:

https://www.theweek.in/wire-updates/national/2024/04/24/lgd17-sc-kalesar-sanctuary.html#:~:text=SC%20stays%20construction%20of%204%20dams%20inside%20Kalesar%20Wildlife%20Sanctuary,-PTI%20Updated%3A%20April&text=New%20Delhi%2C%20Apr%2024%20(PTI,Sanctuary%20in%20Haryana's%20Yamunanagar%20district.