Orrisa asks centre for more money for Similipal as it refutes WII tiger census numbers

Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik met Central MOEF Jairam Ramesh and is reported to have requested for expediting sanctioning of funds for Similipal Tiger reserve as part of the annual plan according to Orrisadiary.com. This blog yesterday highlighted the tug of war going on between state govt and Centre appointed Tiger Conservation bodies on number of tigers inside Similipal tiger reserve. For the last couple of years WII has been indicating decline in population of big cats where as state govt has been repeatedly denying the facts. State govt officials apparently have no reason to feel accountable to either the centre or tiger conservationists as the chief minister himself has been speaking against WII numbers to avoid publicly accepting the embarrassing truth of not being able to save the national animal from slaughter. Similar denials in Panna over the last few years ensured the disappearance of tigers from the reserve and orrisa seems to be following in the footsteps of MP govt.

Orissa asks centre to approve forest clearance for irrigation project

http://www.orissadiary.com/CurrentNews.asp?id=14631

Melghat tiger reserve conflict symbolic of botched up conservation efforts

The Indian express reports villagers around Melghat Tiger reserve in Maharashtra pressurizing politicians to allow cattle grazing inside the park despite it being a notified tiger sanctuary. With elections in the state around the corner, public servants are caught in a bind. After Maharasthra recently signed a tripartite agreement with Centre and NTCA for conservation of tiger reserves, cattle grazing inside reserves which hitherto attracted a penalty has been made a punishable offence and the forest director has made accountable to prevent it. Officers are hence caught in a bin, with politicians on one hand pressurizing them to allow villagers to use the park whereas the new law makes them accountable for such illegal acitivities. The conflicts also highlights the poor planning underneath tiger conservation plans in India. Villagers have been living around the area for generations and to suddenly ask them to discontinue activities linked to earning their livelihood without providing any alternate means of sustenance is criminal negligence. With the centre having cleared a lucrative resettlement package for each family to be relocated, Melghat park officials would be well advised to quickly implement it rather than let the issue simmer and reach a flash point. For the recently formed committee under NTCA tasked to evaluate conservation efforts inside sanctuaries, proper resettlement of villagers should be a priority area.

Works starts on Pilibhit Tiger reserve creation

The Times of India reports initiation of work with regards to creation of Pilibhit tiger reserve. Creation of the park was notified last year. With Dudhwa & Corbett being the other tiger reserves in the region addition of Pilibhit could turn out to be an important milestone in preserving the nothern population of Indian tigers.

Work on new tiger reserve may start by year end

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/news/city/lucknow/Work-on-new-tiger-reserve-may-start-by-year-end/articleshow/5048747.cms