Bhopal, Mar 2 (UNI) A new habitat spread over about 651 square km will be reserved for the wildlife with 40,332 hectare of forest land coming under submergence of the Indira Sagar Project on the Narmada river in western Madhya Pradesh.

About 32 species of wildlife spread over 2000 habitats coming under submergence would be rehabilitated and conserved in the Omkareshwar National Park and sanctuaries at Mandhata and Surmanya, official sources said today.

Technical and administrative approval for conserving the wildlife and development of the national park and sanctuaries at a cost of Rs 37.53 lakh was given at a high-level meeting chaired by Chief Secretary Rakesh Sahni here yesterday.

Wildlife retrieval and conservation project has been prepared by the Narmada Valley Development Authority after studies by Indian Institute of Forest Management, Wildlife Institute of India and Friends of Nature Society.

The Chief Secretary has directed the chief wildlife conservator to directly monitor the conservation work.

The meeting also approved e-tendering for NVDA projects and extended the period for exemption in stamp and registration fee for ISP-affected families up to March 31, 2008.

UNI