Raising environmental concerns, Belagavi zilla panchayat last month put forward a plan to build a new road between Chikhale-Parwad in Khanapur taluk that passes through the proposed Eco Sensitive Zone (ESZ) of Bhimgad Wildlife Sanctuary using laterite stones. The district administration has not filed any application to obtain the mandatory forest clearance under Forest Conservation Act, 1980.
The forest clearance is accorded by the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.
The officials from the forest department pointed out that in the village map, the 5.9-km stretch between Chikhale and Parwad is identified as a footpath.
