Bombay HC sends Gadchiroli mining dispute to NTCA, citing tiger corridor questions
The Bombay High Court's Nagpur Bench has directed a petitioner challenging the Gadchiroli iron ore mining project to approach the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA), observing that the authority is best placed to determine whether the project area is connected to the Tadoba-Indravati tiger corridor. The court said the NTCA's specialised statutory role makes it the appropriate forum to examine the grievances raised, including the potential impact on tiger movement and wildlife habitat.
According to the court order published on August 19, 2026, the petitioner had not made any prior representation to the authorities before filing the petition. The court granted permission to withdraw the petition and instead approach the NTCA directly with a representation raising the same issues.
The petition was filed last month by Mumbai-based lawyer and social activist Sagar Kantilal Devre. It challenges three regulatory approvals: the environmental clearance, Stage-II forest clearance, and wildlife clearance exemption granted for the diversion of 937.077 hectares of forest land in Gadchiroli district's villages, including Hedri, Bande, Parsalgondi and Round-Parsalgondi in Etapalli taluk. The approvals were given in favour of Lloyds Metals and Energy Ltd. for an iron ore mining project.
According to the petitioner, the region falls under the Tadoba-Indravati tiger corridor. He argued that the project was exempted from wildlife clearance without considering the statutory Tiger Conservation Plan, NTCA guidelines, scientific reports from the Wildlife Institute of India, or the project proponent's own GPS/KML maps.
The petition cites violations of Sections 38-O and 38-V of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, which relate to the NTCA's mandate and statutory Tiger Conservation Plans. It also alleges failure to conduct GIS-based corridor analysis, radio-telemetry analysis, dispersal route assessment, and cumulative impact assessment. The petition further claims that the withdrawal of the Principal Chief Conservator of Forest's legal clarification was arbitrary and unreasoned.
The State government cleared the project proposal on May 13, diverting 9.4 square kilometres of forest land in Gadchiroli under the tiger corridor for iron ore extraction. The decision triggered backlash from environmentalists and social activists. A coalition of 20 civil society organisations has already urged the NTCA to reconsider the proposal, asking the authority to re-evaluate the Least Cost Path (LCP) model used to map the corridor. LCP is a computer-based method used to map routes that wild animals are likely to take.
The court, however, did not rule on the merits of the case. It noted that the NTCA's jurisdiction and expertise make it the ideal body to decide whether the area is part of a tiger corridor and whether the project requires wildlife clearance. The court's decision allows the petitioner to present the full set of grievances to the NTCA, which can then consider scientific evidence and legal provisions before taking a final call.
The case highlights the broader tension between industrial development and conservation of critical wildlife habitats. The Tadoba-Indravati corridor is one of the most important tiger corridors in central India, connecting tiger populations in Maharashtra, Telangana, and Chhattisgarh. Environmental experts say unregulated mining in such corridors can fragment habitats, disrupt animal movement, and lead to long-term ecological damage.
