Wire-Free Cities, But Cables and Towers in Forests: Telecom Expansion Plans in Gujarat’s Wildlife Sanctuaries Raise Questions

Dilip Patel
Ahmedabad | June 11, 2026

While the Gujarat government is moving ahead with an ambitious plan to make all urban areas “wire-free” by 2030, a parallel expansion of optical fibre cables, mobile towers and power infrastructure inside wildlife sanctuaries and forest areas has sparked debate among environmentalists and conservation experts.

Under the “Gujarat Wire-Free City Mission,” announced by Minister Jitu Vaghani on June 3, 2026, the state plans to shift nearly 24,000 kilometres of overhead utility wires underground across 17 municipal corporations and 151 municipalities. The government has approved an initial allocation of ₹500 crore for the programme, which aims to improve urban aesthetics, safety and infrastructure reliability.

However, as cities move towards underground networks, proposals for telecommunications and power infrastructure inside protected forest areas are drawing increasing scrutiny.

17 Major Proposals Before the Wildlife Board

At a meeting of the Gujarat State Wildlife Board, a total of 17 major proposals were considered. These included:

• 8 proposals related to Optical Fibre Cable (OFC) networks
• 5 proposals for mobile towers
• 1 proposal for a power transmission line
• 2 proposals for road widening and strengthening
• 1 proposal for the reorganization of Gir Sanctuary boundaries

The proposals involve several ecologically sensitive protected areas, including:

• Wild Ass Sanctuary
• Narayan Sarovar Sanctuary
• Kutch Desert Wildlife Sanctuary
• Balaram-Ambaji Wildlife Sanctuary
• Gir Wildlife Sanctuary
• Jambughoda Wildlife Sanctuary
• Ratanmahal Sloth Bear Sanctuary
• Vansda National Park

Telecom Expansion Across Protected Areas

Several telecom operators and infrastructure companies have sought permission to expand connectivity within wildlife habitats.

The Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) has proposed laying optical fibre cables in the Wild Ass Sanctuary to improve 4G communication services.

Jio Digital Fibre Pvt. Ltd. has proposed an underground OFC corridor stretching approximately 18.55 kilometres from Balasar to Fatehgarh through parts of the Kutch Desert Wildlife Sanctuary.

Another proposal involves laying about 2.68 kilometres of underground fibre cable in the Balaram-Ambaji Sanctuary area of Banaskantha district.

In the Wild Ass Sanctuary region of Patan district, Jio has proposed an additional 6.03-kilometre underground fibre route.

Further proposals have been submitted for telecom infrastructure development in Narayan Sarovar Sanctuary and Vansda National Park, aiming to improve digital connectivity in remote areas.

Power Infrastructure and Road Expansion in Gir

The Gujarat power utility has proposed an 11 kV underground power transmission line within the Gir Sanctuary area.

Meanwhile, the Roads and Buildings Department has sought permission for road widening and strengthening works inside parts of Gir.

Wildlife experts warn that such infrastructure projects often increase human access to previously undisturbed forest zones, potentially affecting wildlife habitats and movement corridors.

New Wildlife Sanctuary Proposed in South Gujarat

The government has also initiated the process of declaring approximately 69,668.51 hectares of contiguous forest land under the Surat and Tapi forest divisions as a new wildlife sanctuary.

If approved, it would significantly strengthen wildlife conservation efforts in South Gujarat and create one of the larger protected landscapes in the region.

Gir Sanctuary Boundary Reorganization

A separate proposal involves the reorganization of the boundaries of Gir Wildlife Sanctuary.

Under the plan, 11 forest-settlement villages would be excluded from the sanctuary area, including:

• Hansapur
• Sajiya
• Amrutvel
• Shirvan
• Bhayadhar
• Bhakha
• Beti Thoradi
• Jhankhiya
• Jasadhar
• Chikhalkuba
• Kothariya

These villages cover a combined area of approximately 1,932.29 hectares.

In exchange, about 1,949.34 hectares of new land would be added to the sanctuary, including areas around Pichchhavi, Harmadiya, Ghantvad, Bamanasa, Malanka, Ambala, Ranidhar, Mundiya Ravani and parts of Gir Gadhada.

The result would be a net increase of approximately 17 hectares in the sanctuary’s protected area.

Government officials say the move is intended to resolve long-standing land tenure issues and provide revenue village status to forest-settlement communities.

Leopard Population Up 63 Percent

According to Gujarat Forest Department data, the state’s leopard population has increased to 2,274, representing a 63 percent rise compared to previous estimates.

At the same time, incidents of human-wildlife conflict continue to be reported.

2022–23

• Human deaths: 26
• Human injuries: 156
• Livestock losses: 6,597 cases

2023–24

• Human deaths: 29
• Human injuries: 97
• Livestock losses: 2,178 cases

Conservationists argue that increasing infrastructure and human activity near wildlife habitats can indirectly intensify such conflicts.

Environmental Concerns

Environmental experts note that although underground fibre cables have a smaller visual footprint than overhead networks, their installation can still have ecological consequences.

Construction activities often involve:

• Excavation and trenching
• Use of heavy machinery
• Temporary access roads
• Disturbance to vegetation and tree roots

Such activities may fragment habitats and disrupt natural wildlife corridors.

Mobile towers can also require land clearing and periodic maintenance visits, increasing human presence in sensitive ecosystems.

Potential Impact on Wildlife

Experts warn that tall communication towers may pose collision risks for migratory birds and other avian species.

Concerns have also been raised regarding electromagnetic radiation (EMF) from telecom infrastructure.

Some studies have suggested possible effects on:

• Bird navigation systems
• Pollinators such as bees
• Certain bat species

However, there is currently no strong scientific evidence demonstrating severe impacts of mobile tower radiation on large mammals such as lions, leopards, tigers or bears.

41 Tower Proposals in a Decade

Available records indicate that between 2015 and 2025, various companies submitted proposals for 41 mobile towers within protected wildlife areas across Gujarat.

Of these, 34 proposals were linked to the Gir landscape alone.

In December 2021, several proposals involving telecom towers and fibre networks in Gir, Girnar, Shoolpaneshwar and Ratanmahal wildlife areas were reportedly deferred following regulatory scrutiny.

Balancing Connectivity and Conservation

Gujarat’s push for wire-free cities and expanded digital connectivity reflects the state’s broader modernization agenda. Yet the simultaneous expansion of telecommunications and power infrastructure into wildlife habitats has highlighted the challenge of balancing development with environmental conservation.

Experts emphasize that digital connectivity is essential for economic growth and public services, particularly in remote regions. However, projects located within protected areas require rigorous environmental assessment, scientific monitoring and strict safeguards to minimize ecological impacts.

As Gujarat advances toward a more connected future, policymakers will increasingly face the challenge of ensuring that technological progress does not come at the cost of the state’s forests, wildlife and ecological heritage.