Canal will hurt top reserve’s tigers

Jan 25, 2012 - Rashme Sehgal | Age Correspondent | New Delhi The Rajasthan state government’s determination to construct a canal which will slice through the Ranthambore Tiger Reserve (RTR) is going to take a heavy toll on the tiger population of this high-profile sanctuary. The canal will severe the crucial corridor that links RTR to the Sawai Mansingh Sanctuary. The problem is made more complex because the state government had sought permission for this canal construction from the standing committee of the National Board for Wildlife (NBW). The NBW turned down the proposal twice. Prerna Bindra, a member of the standing committee of the NBW pointed out, “The channel will sever and finish the corridor between RNP and the Sawai Mansingh Sanctuary. If this linkage is broken, the tigers have a doubtful future. The corridor needs to be protected at all cost.” Ms Bindra added, “Sawai Mansingh Sanctuary has finally after a long period, seen signs of breeding tigers. According to reports, the presence of six adult tigers and four cubs have been recorded in this sanctuary.” The foundation stone for the canal was laid by Namo Narain Meena, Lok Sabha MP from Sawai Madhopur, in April 2011. When National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) member P.K. Sen visited the RTR, he found a large number of trees had been cut in order to build this canal. Rajasthan’s former chief wildlife warden R.N. Mehrotra (retired a fortnight ago) explained, “The reason why the canal was being constructed was because major siltation had taken place in the Mansarovar Lake located in RTR. Extra water was required in order to remove the silt.” But water experts point out that an attempt to connect the Kushalipura nalla to the Mansarovar Lake will hardly provide a solution to the siltation problem. The state forest department has now suggested to the ministry of environment and forests that they should go in for underground pipes that can pump water to the lake and are awaiting a green signal from them. http://www.asianage.com/india/canal-will-hurt-top-reserve-s-tigers-797