India, April 18 -- A new dam to meet Mumbai's rising water needs, two mining projects, and a road meant to service power lines are set to claim 1,800 hectares of forest across Maharashtra, large swathes of it slicing through fragile wildlife habitats including the tiger corridor of Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve. A staggering 4,00,000 trees will also be axed.

All four mega-projects were given the green signal by the State Board of Wildlife (SBWL) on Thursday at a meeting chaired by chief minister Devendra Fadnavis. Clearance by the board was critical, given the potential destruction to sensitive habitats and delicate ecosystems. The proposals will be forwarded to the National Wildlife Board for its consideration.

Among the projects cleare...