Maharashtra wildlife board approves sanctuary status for two forest areas, 14 conservation reserves

The Maharashtra State Board for Wildlife on Monday (October 26, 2026) approved proposals to declare two forest areas as wildlife sanctuaries and 14 areas across seven districts as conservation reserves, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said on Monday (October 26).

The decisions were taken at the 26th meeting of the board, which was chaired by the CM.

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The Kolamarka Conservation Reserve in Gadchiroli district, known for its population of wild buffaloes, has been approved for declaration as a wildlife sanctuary.

The board also approved the proposal to declare the newly expanded Tansa Wildlife Sanctuary, adjoining the existing sanctuary, as a wildlife sanctuary.

The 14 proposed conservation reserves are located in Pune, Raigad, Nashik, Nandurbar, Thane, Palghar and Chandrapur districts.

They include Velhe-Mulshi in Pune and Raigad districts; Bhor Girgad in Pune; Dindori, Surgana and Taharabad in Nashik; Chinchpada in Nandurbar; Alibag and Ghera Manikgad in Raigad; Lonavala in Pune and Raigad; Ghumtara in Thane; Jawhar, Asherigad and Dhamani in Palghar; and Ekara in Chandrapur.

The board also approved a proposal to include 588.767 hectares of revenue and private land from Ogda, Khodde, Tirmal, Pachghar, Phansad and Amle villages in the newly expanded Tansa Wildlife Sanctuary as part of efforts to make the existing sanctuary free of human habitation.

Proposals to declare 100.139 square km of the Koka Wildlife Sanctuary and 255.79 square km of the Jayakwadi Bird Sanctuary as critical wildlife habitats were also approved.

"Incorporate routine work such as dam repairs, rehabilitation and desilting in the management plans of wildlife sanctuaries. The plans should be revised within three months by framing standard operating procedures in accordance with the rules," the CM told officials.

Instead of seeking separate approvals for every such work, a system should be put in place to ensure prior intimation to the concerned wildlife officials, the Chief Minister said.

The board also approved proposals concerning infrastructure projects, including irrigation, healthcare, water supply, bridges, roads, underground optical fibre cables and power lines in protected areas, eco-sensitive zones and tiger corridors.

Proposals to notify the core, buffer and notified eco-sensitive areas of the State's six tiger reserves as silence zones, declare human-wildlife conflict a natural disaster, and frame a policy for the rehabilitation of villages willing to relocate from buffer zones of tiger reserves were also discussed.

CM Fadnavis directed officials to examine the compatibility of the proposed measures with the Disaster Management Act, the existing compensation system and powers of the Forest Department before taking further action.

He also directed officials to study staff adjustments, deputation and vacancies in areas already declared wildlife sanctuaries but still managed by the territorial Forest Department or the Forest Development Corporation, and submit a proposal for a decision within one month.

Forest Minister Ganesh Naik attended the meeting virtually.