4 more tiger reserves get the nod

Neha Sinha
Posted online: Friday, August 29, 2008 at 2332 hrs

New Delhi, August 28: In A fillip to tiger conservation, the National Tiger Conservation Authority has given in-principle approval for four more tiger reserves in different states in the country.

The relatively unknown Rapa Pani sanctuary in Madhya Pradesh, Sahyadri sanctuary in Maharashtra, Pilibhit sanctuary in Uttar Pradesh and Suna Beda in Orissa will be notified as tiger reserves. “These states had given proposals for becoming tiger reserves. We have given them the in-principle approval to create four new reserves. We have asked the states to send in detailed proposals,” says Rajesh Gopal, Member Secretary, National Tiger Conservation Authority.

Pilibhit, which often gets a tiger spillover population from Dudhwa Tiger Reserve, is reeling under poaching pressures. The other three sanctuaries, according to the Forest Department records, have a scattered tiger population. Becoming a tiger reserve will mean that the protected reserve will get funds under Project Tiger and will also have a dedicated Tiger Protection Force, for which a one-time allocation of Rs 50 crore was made under this year’s Budget. This force is dedicated to patrolling and vigilance over and above the vigil in protected areas by the Forest Department.

There are currently 36 tiger reserves in the country. This new notification will make a total of 40 tiger reserves. Madhya Pradesh remains the state with maximum number of tiger reserves. With this addition, the state now has six tiger reserves.

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