Activist launches hunger strike against iron mine threat to Tadoba corridor

A hunger strike entered its third day on Saturday as activist Bandu Dhotre continued his protest against the proposed Lohardongri iron mine in the Tadoba corridor , a critical wildlife passage linking the Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve to surrounding forests in Maharashtra's Chandrapur district.

Dhotre began his fast outside the District Collector's Office on March 5, drawing support from environmentalists concerned about the project’s potential impact on wildlife. “ When tiger-human conflicts in the district were already at their peak, wildlife permission was granted to a mine in a highly sensitive corridor, ” Dhotre said, highlighting the dangers posed to both the forest ecosystem and local communities.

He accused the government of ignoring crucial recommendations from a committee formed in 2021 to address the escalating human-tiger conflict. “After consulting with villagers and forest officials, the committee submitted its report to the state government in January 2021. The report was formally accepted during the 17th meeting of the State Wildlife Advisory Board in October 2021, yet no action has been taken, ” Dhotre added.

The activist’s fast underscores growing tensions between industrial development and conservation in Maharashtra, where forests like Tadoba play a pivotal role in sustaining tiger populations and biodiversity. Environmentalists fear that mining in such corridors could not only exacerbate human-wildlife conflicts but also threaten the long-term survival of endangered species.

As Dhotre continues his protest, local authorities have yet to publicly respond, leaving the community and wildlife advocates anxiously awaiting a decision that could determine the future of the region’s delicate ecosystem.