The state government on Friday approved the buffer zone proposal for the Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve (TATR), sources said. The buffer zone — mandated by the amended Wildlife Protection Act of 2006 — had been proposed by the Forest Department early last year, but had hit the roadblock due to opposition from local people’s representatives in Chandrapur, who termed it “anti-people”.
Incidentally, the clearance comes days after Prime Minister Manmohan Singh took it upon himself to prod the state government on to hasten the process. The TATR buffer zone was one of the items listed by the PM for swift action in a letter to Chief Minister Ashok Chavan last week.
The 1,150-sq km buffer zone has 79 villages and several mines operating in the vicinity. Mining is prohibited in the buffer zone, which is supposed to act as additional protection for wildlife. Local politicians had been saying the buffer zone will lead to relocation of villages when no such idea is part of the concept. It was alleged that the opposition was at the behest of the strong mining lobby.The area is also witnessing a fierce man-tiger conflict over the past four years, with over 60 people dying in tiger attacks. The buffer zone also specially provides for tackling the issue in a definite manner.
Overall, about 12 buffer zones have already been declared in different states so far.
http://www.indianexpress.com/news/tatr-buffer-zone-gets-govt-nod/613643/
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