top of page

By:

Correspondent

21 August 2024 at 10:20:16 am

Broken Corridors

India likes to celebrate its growing tiger population as one of conservation’s great success stories. But tigers survive and thrive because their habitats remain connected. Fragmenting those forests entails risks for thriving tiger populations. The decision to grant an in-principle wildlife clearance for a third railway line through the Satpura-Melghat tiger corridor carries with it precisely that risk. The proposed railway line between Jujharpur and Chichonda cuts through one of central...

Broken Corridors

India likes to celebrate its growing tiger population as one of conservation’s great success stories. But tigers survive and thrive because their habitats remain connected. Fragmenting those forests entails risks for thriving tiger populations. The decision to grant an in-principle wildlife clearance for a third railway line through the Satpura-Melghat tiger corridor carries with it precisely that risk. The proposed railway line between Jujharpur and Chichonda cuts through one of central India’s most critical wildlife landscapes, linking the Satpura and Melghat tiger reserves and forming part of the larger Satpura-Pench-Melghat landscape. This corridor is a biological highway, allowing tigers and other wildlife to disperse, breed and maintain healthy genetic diversity. The Standing Committee of the National Board for Wildlife has insisted that mitigation measures such as wildlife overpasses be scientifically designed and reviewed before implementation. Yet the clearance itself exposes an unsettling contradiction. The committee’s own inspection found that the proposed 34 wildlife overpasses were based largely on field observations and mortality records rather than rigorous scientific assessment. Detailed engineering designs are still absent. Importantly, the comprehensive landscape study by the State Forest Research Institute, Jabalpur, is still awaited. The approval has been granted before the study is in. This reverses the basic principle that should govern projects in ecologically sensitive landscapes. Scientific evidence must guide approvals, not merely refine them after the fact. Once a project gathers administrative momentum, conditions often become exercises in compliance rather than conservation. There have been far too many examples where mitigation structures were inadequately designed, poorly located or inconsistently monitored, leaving wildlife to bear the consequences. The danger extends beyond tigers. The Satpura-Melghat landscape supports leopards, sloth bears, wild dogs, gaur and countless smaller species that depend on uninterrupted forests. Railways have already emerged as a significant source of wildlife mortality across India. Faster trains, higher traffic density and expanding rail infrastructure multiply these risks, especially where animal movement corridors intersect transport networks. None of this argues against development. India’s expanding economy requires better freight movement and modern transport infrastructure. But development ceases to be sustainable when it treats ecological safeguards as hurdles instead of foundations. While a railway can be built, a forest corridor, once fragmented, cannot simply be reconstructed through concrete overpasses and engineering optimism. India has spent decades and enormous public resources restoring tiger habitats and expanding protected areas. Allowing critical corridors to shrink through piecemeal clearances would squander those gains. The Satpura-Melghat corridor is the artery through which one of India’s finest wildlife landscapes continues to breathe. That said, if the government gets the balance between development and conversation right, this project could well become a model for reconciling economic ambition with ecological responsibility.

Squash gains momentum as global spotlight

Abhay Singh and Anahat Singh
Abhay Singh and Anahat Singh

Mumbai: As squash prepares to make its long-awaited debut at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games, India’s position on the global map of the sport received a significant boost with the successful staging of the JSW Indian Open 2026 in Mumbai. The tournament, held on the Professional Squash Association World Tour circuit, not only showcased elite talent but also underlined the growing importance of corporate partnerships in nurturing emerging sports.


Adding to the event’s stature, K Raheja Corp Homes joined as the Official Partner, marking its first foray into sports sponsorship. The association reflects a broader trend of non-endemic brands recognising the potential of niche yet globally governed sports like squash, especially at a time when Olympic inclusion has dramatically elevated its profile.


The JSW Indian Open, classified as a PSA Copper-level event, holds substantial competitive significance. It offers crucial ranking points that directly influence global standings, seeding positions and qualification pathways for marquee events, including the 2028 Olympics. For Indian players, such tournaments provide rare home-ground exposure against international competitors, bridging a critical gap in high-performance experience.


Speaking on the association, a spokesperson for K Raheja Corp Homes said, “The JSW Indian Open is a high-calibre platform that reflects the kind of performance, discipline and global competitiveness we strongly identify with. Our association is a natural extension of our commitment to aligning with credible, international-standard ecosystems that are shaping India’s presence on the global stage.”


Echoing the importance of corporate backing, Karan Yadav, Chief Commercial Officer at JSW Sports, emphasised the role of partnerships in scaling such events. “Partnerships play a crucial role in shaping events like the JSW Indian Open and we are pleased to have K Raheja Corp Homes come on board this year. As their first association with sport, it reflects a considered and forward-looking approach towards supporting emerging platforms like squash. Their partnership has helped us further strengthen the overall tournament experience for both Indian and international players,” he said.


On the court, the tournament delivered high-intensity action, with Abhay Singh and Anahat Singh clinching the men’s and women’s titles respectively. Their victories underline the steady rise of Indian squash talent, which has been gaining traction on the global stage but still requires consistent exposure to top-tier competition.


Beyond the winners, the tournament served as a vital competitive platform for players to accumulate ranking points and enhance their global standings. With squash now firmly on the Olympic roadmap, such events are no longer peripheral, they are central to an athlete’s progression and international relevance.


The significance of the JSW Indian Open also lies in its role as a catalyst for ecosystem development. India, traditionally overshadowed by squash strongholds like Egypt and England, is increasingly emerging as a viable host for global events. This shift is being driven by improved infrastructure, professional tournament management and rising audience engagement.


Corporate participation, as demonstrated by K Raheja Corp Homes, is a critical piece of this puzzle. The partnership signals a strategic pivot in brand engagement—from conventional advertising to purpose-led platforms that intersect sport, lifestyle and aspiration. By aligning with a globally recognised sporting event, the company extends its brand narrative into a domain defined by excellence and international competitiveness.


As India deepens its integration with global sporting circuits, platforms like the JSW Indian Open are becoming indispensable. They not only provide athletes with the competitive exposure required at the highest level but also help build a sustainable sporting culture backed by institutional and corporate support.


With squash set to enter the Olympic arena, the need for such high-quality tournaments in India has never been greater. The success of the JSW Indian Open 2026 demonstrates that the country is not just participating in the global squash movement—but is poised to play a defining role in its future trajectory.

Comments

bottom of page