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Sunday, March 6, 2011

Rajasthan mulls national park in Kumbhalgarh

JAIPUR: Rajasthan's forest department plans to develop a national park in Kumbhalgarh , Raoli and Tatgarh areas of the state, an official said on Saturday.

The park, covering an area of 525 sq km, will be Rajasthan's third one after Ranthambore and Keoladeo national parks in Sawai Madhopur and Bharatpur districts, respectively.

It is being planned to accommodate the growing population of tigers in Ranthambore National Park and prevent territorial fights among them.

The park will be developed after clubbing together sanctuary areas of Kumbhalgarh, Raoli and Tatgarh falling in Pali, Rajsamand, Udaipur and Ajmer districts, a senior forest department official told IANS.

"We have prepared the proposal on the basis of our vast research of the area. We found that it has all the potential to be developed as a national park," said the official.

He added that combination of rocky terrains and dense forests was suitable for a variety of animals, including panthers, leopards, bears, deer and rabbits.

"There is no dearth of prey if the tigers are shifted here," he said.

If implemented, the project is likely to give a major boost to the tourism industry in the state.

"The state government, after giving its nod, will issue a notification announcing the area as national park. After that, work to shift some of the villages will begin," he said.

The desert state is one of the few states that can boast of two tiger projects, a bird sanctuary and 25 wildlife sanctuaries.


http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/environment/flora-fauna/rajasthan-mulls-national-park-in-kumbhalgarh/articleshow/7636760.cms

Place of worship hits tiger conservation TNN

DALTONGANJ: A huge place of worship right in the middle of Palamu tiger reserve has hindered progress of conserving the big cats.

The pucca building at Labher on way from Betla to Garu has become a troubled zone also as a ranger had been beaten up by local villagers some years back.

National Tiger Conservation Authority member of east and northeast effective management evaluation Srivastava said the ranger had objected to the construction of the place of worship at Labher.

The Supreme Court has asked the state governments to ensure a relocation of all places of worship, which are in a way causing inconvenience to public.

Palamu Project Tiger field director Paritosh Upadhaya said: "First of all, this place of worship has not come up during the period I have been here but has drawn devotees over the last 50 years."

The Palamu directorate of Project Tiger has clearly and strictly asked the people of this place of worship not to raise, construct or expand any more.

He agreed that the issue is "sensitive" while corroborating manhandling of the then field ranger over the coming up of this pucca place of worship at Labher.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/ranchi/TNN05tigerdocclearedSP/-193Place-of-worship-hits/articleshow/7636697.cms