Buffer marked, money flows in for Tadoba

NAGPUR: At a time when man-animal conflict is raging around Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve (TATR), the villagers around the reserve may soon see some respite. The tigers have now started bringing money to be spent in buffer zone for alleviating the conflict.

The National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA), the statutory body under ministry of environment and forests (MoEF) monitoring tiger reserves, has sanctioned Rs 3.63 crore for Tadoba and its buffer under the centrally sponsored scheme (CSS) during 2010-11. Of this amount, Rs 1.87 crore is the recurring cost of the scheme and will be shared on 50:50 basis by the state and the central government. The remaining will be treated as 100% central assistance.

During the last three years, TATR never got more than Rs 2.15 crore. This is for the first time that such a big amount has been sanctioned for tigers and habitat improvement. Not only this, Pench National Park and Tadoba are among the six reserves in India to get early sanctions from NTCA.

Interestingly, an amount of Rs 74 lakh has also been sanctioned for newly-formed Sahyadri Tiger Reserve in Western Maharashtra. SP Yadav, joint director NTCA, said Chandrapur district was worstaffected by man-animal conflict as there was high density of tigers in the Tadoba landscape. At least 62 villagers have been killed by the carnivores in the last five years here. "Another reason to increase grants is because now the reserve has a notified buffer. Habitat improvement works like developing water holes and meadows can now be undertaken.

Besides, staff training and protection will also be priority," Yadav told TOI. The wildlife wing had proposed Rs 17.12 crore for four tiger reserves and 30 sanctuaries and national parks. However, NTCA has till now sanctioned Rs 8.25 crore. Of this, Rs 1.74 crore is to be shared by the state. It has already released Rs 1 crore — Rs 50 lakh in July and Rs 50 lakh in August. Official sources said that of the Rs 8.25 crore, Rs 5.43 crore was earmarked for Pench, Tadoba and Sahyadri reserves. Pench was sanctioned Rs 1.68 crore in July. Melghat is to yet to receive any grant. The NTCA has also not released the proposed Rs 75.50 crore for rehabilitation of villages in Melghat
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