377 Villages on Edge as Sahyadri Tiger Corridor Notification Looms

Panic has gripped 377 villages in Kolhapur district following reports that the official notification for the new Sahyadri Tiger Corridor is expected by May 21, 2026, bringing stringent forest restrictions

Kolhapur |May 13, 2026: An air of profound unease has settled over the rural landscapes of Kolhapur, Ratnagiri, and Sindhudurg districts as the deadline for the proposed Sahyadri Tiger Project corridor approaches. Sources indicate that the central government is likely to issue the official notification by May 21, a move that would place 550 villages under the direct oversight of the Forest Department, with Kolhapur bearing the brunt of the impact.

Out of the total villages earmarked for the corridor, a staggering 377 fall within Kolhapur district alone. Other affected areas include 120 villages in Sindhudurg and 20 in Ratnagiri. The proposal, which was submitted by the Wildlife Department to the central authorities two years ago, is now in its final stages of approval. Once notified, these settlements will face mandatory environmental regulations, restricting infrastructure development, farming practices, and land use to ensure an unobstructed path for tiger migration.

The list of affected areas spans several tehsils, including Chandgad, Panhala, Ajara, Bhudargad, Radhanagari, Shahuwadi, and Gaganbawda. Residents in high-priority zones like Amboli, Chandgad, and Gaganbawda have expressed deep anxiety over the potential loss of traditional land rights and the imposition of “buffer zone” protocols. In many of these pockets, the local economy relies heavily on agriculture and minor forest produce sectors that could see significant intervention once the corridor becomes a legal reality.

While wildlife enthusiasts hail the move as a critical step toward stabilizing the tiger population in the Western Ghats, the human cost remains a flashpoint. Local leaders have noted that the lack of clear communication regarding compensation or rehabilitation has fueled the current atmosphere of fear. As the May 21 date nears, the district administration faces the uphill task of balancing ecological preservation with the livelihoods of thousands of villagers now staring at an uncertain future.

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