Assessment report by the Space Applications Centre regarding encroachment inside wild ass sanctuary, Little Rann of Kutch, Gujarat, 31/03/2023
Assessment report by the Space Applications Centre in Original Application No. 27 of 2023 in re news item published in the Times of India dated January 3, 2023 titled encroachment alleged inside wild ass sanctuary.
The report said that there is significant increase in salt pan activities inside the Little Rann of Kutch (LRK). This is a threat to wild ass habitat, migratory birds breeding ground and overall ecosystems. It is observed from satellite data that, increase in salt pans, intertidal flow obstruction, river flow blockage, and chemical plant activity may lead towards ecological deterioration. To show the increase of salt pan activities in LRK, Space Applications Centre showed images captured from google earth for two time frames (1985 and 2022). Salt pan activities increased many folds at Little Rann of Kutch near Satalpur. Intertidal flow obstructed due to increase in large scale salt pan activities near Malia.
The report also showed that chemical plants are located very near to the sanctuary. River and land pollution can disturb the wild ass habitat, migratory birds breeding ground and overall ecosystems.
Note: The report dated March 31, 2023 was uploaded to the NGT site, April 13. 2023