What is happening at Dumna?
The Dumna Nature Reserve (DNR) of Jabalpur Municipal Corporation is spread over nearly 1800 acres of forested land on a plateau, about 40 meters above Jabalpur town. It was transferred to the Municipal Committee of Jubbalpore by the provincial government to act as the catchment area for the Khandari lake.
It has come to our notice that the following projects are being proposed at Dumna:
- Road widening which will require the felling of large trees (This is being heard in the honorable court of Madhya Pradesh to have minimal environmental damage)
- An IPL level stadium which now has become a Green Sports Complex (40 Acres)
- Offices for the Railways (40 Acres)
- Land to Revenue Department for Residence (10 Acres)
- Land to Lokayukta (5 Acres)
- 4/5 star hotels / resorts (10 Acres)
Why is this concerning?
Dumna is already designated as an eco-sensitive zone in the Jabalpur Development Plan. The area has a long history of protection, dating back over 150 years, and is home to a diverse range of natural trees, shrubs, herbs, and grasses.
This forest is a dry deciduous variety, which is typical of mixed forests in central India. Many native trees, plants, shrubs, herbs, creepers, climbers, and grasses can be found here. The park is home to a variety of ecosystems, including forests, grasslands, and wetlands. Nine leopards live in Dumna, together with over 2,000 deer (cheetal, barking deer, four-horned antelope, jungle cat, Asiatic wild cat, etc.).
Dumna has been home to about 300 different bird species, both migrating and resident. The degradation of natural habitat around Jabalpur City has been visible as the population has grown over the years.
Given the eco-sensitive nature of this area, we demand to find alternative sites for these projects.
Development in this area will result in the removal of old trees, pollution of streams, and a reduction in the city’s air quality. It will also result in the obliteration of an urban forest that has withstood the test of time. The loss will be considerably larger for the local fauna, resulting in increased conflict with humans.
Earlier, a tiger safari was being proposed at Dumna which was rejected by Central Zoo Authority. It is our urgent plea that alternative sites be found for the other proposed projects as well and that the eco-sensitive zone of Dumna remains a GREEN ZONE, where no construction can take place.
An earlier proposal for a tiger safari in Dumna was turned down by the Central Zoo Authority. Our urgent request is that alternate locations be identified for the other proposed projects, and that Dumna’s eco-sensitive zone remain a GREEN ZONE where no building can take place.
