The Standing Committee of the National Board for Wildlife has recommended approval for diversion of about 272 hectares of forest land for the Kopra medium irrigation project in Madhya Pradesh. The project falls in the core area of the Veerangana Durgavati Tiger Reserve, a protected landscape notified in 2023 to offset habitat loss linked to the Ken-Betwa river-linking project.
Project Scope and Location
The project proposes irrigation reservoirs along the Byarma and Kopra rivers in Sagar district. It aims to provide water for domestic use and irrigation for 9,900 hectares under Rabi crops. The project will submerge 1,044.52 hectares in total, including private land, government land and forest land.
Forest Diversion and Compensation
Of the total submergence area, 272 hectares are forest land within the tiger reserve. In exchange, 310 hectares of revenue land inside the reserve will be kept aside for compensatory afforestation. The approval was based on a site inspection involving the National Tiger Conservation Authority, Madhya Pradesh Forest Department, Wildlife Institute of India, Union Environment Ministry officials and the state water resources division.
Wildlife and Habitat Concerns
The National Tiger Conservation Authority had flagged the possible impact on tiger movement and the wetland-riparian ecosystem of the Kopra River, which is a tributary of the Sonar River. The tiger reserve supports tigers, leopards, hyena, sambar and sloth bear. Officials noted that the reservoir may also act as a barrier against grazing pressure and reduce human entry into forest areas.
Regulatory Background
The project was cleared with a direction that no damage should be caused to forests, wildlife or habitats. The Veerangana Durgavati Tiger Reserve, spread over 2,339.12 sq km, was carved out of the Nauradehi Wildlife Sanctuary. It was created after concerns were raised over habitat loss from the Ken-Betwa river-linking project, which led to the notification of new tiger reserves in the region.
Last Modified: April 27, 2026