NAGPUR: The Centre on Tuesday finally cleared the setting up of India's first regional office of theNational Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) in Nagpur.
The proposal was cleared on Tuesday, and an official communication issued by Rajesh Gopal, NTCA member-secretary, to this effect was received by PCCF (wildlife) on Wednesday. NTCA is the statutory body under the ministry of environment & forests (MoEF) monitoring all tiger reserves in India.
The NTCA has stated that the office at Nagpur will closely monitor all tiger reserves in Central India. There are 12 tigers reserves in Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh.
CCF Shree Bhagwan, who is presently general manager at FDCM, has been asked to facilitate the setting up of the new office. Sources said the office premises has also been finalized and is situated opposite the VCA stadium in Civil Lines.
TOI had reported on January 10 NTCA's plans to set up a regional office at Nagpur. Later Jairam Ramesh confirmed it on January 27 in Nagpur. On September 13 while in the city, Ramesh said the proposal was pending with the finance ministry.
"Nagpur is known as the tiger gateway and hence our choice. The office will be in place this year itself," Gopal told TOI. The office will be handled by a CCF level officer.
"Setting up of regional office in Nagpur holds significance as there will be better coordination now and response time will be reduced," said Kishor Rithe, president of Satpuda Foundation.
"We will see to it that NTCA guidelines are implemented effectively and there is better cooperation between the tiger states," Gopal added.
This will be NTCA's first mega expansion plan in India. The authority, earlier known as Project Tiger, came into existence on September 4, 2006 after amendments to Wildlife Protection Act, 2006. Following the changes, a Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB) was mulled in Nagpur but was instead taken to Jabalpur later.
Forest officials felt setting up of NTCA office would help streamline release of funds. Getting money in time is the biggest problem today. NTCA releases money in September and state government further delays it by another three months.
The office at Nagpur will facilitate implementation of normative standards for tiger conservation, providing information on several aspects which include protection, ensuring measures for addressing man-wild animal conflict and fostering preparation of tiger protection and conservation plans by neighbouring states among host of other things.
The NTCA office will coordinate with three tiger states having 12 tiger reserves. It will include Melghat, Tadoba-Andhari, Sahyadri and Pench in Maharashtra; Pench, Panna, Bandhavgarh, Kanha and Satpuda in Madhya Pradesh and Indravati and Achanakmar in Chhattisgarh. These reserves and part of its landscape, as per the Wildlife Institute of India ( WII) 2008 status report, has a presence of over 500 tigers. which is one-third tiger population of India.
Friday, October 1, 2010
Sunny side up for sanctuaries
JAIPUR: It is a promising season ahead for tourists to the Ranthambore national park and the Sariska sanctuary as the tiger reserves open up for tourists after a hiatus of three months from Friday. While two newborns await tourists at Ranthambore, Sariska has five tigers now for the first time since the cat population was wiped away from there.
According to R S Shekhawat, director of the national park, "It sure is a promising season for tourists. It is after a gap of two years that cubs have been bon here and they will fill the vacuum left by the relocation of two tigers from here to Sariska recently." As always all eye at Ranthambore would be scanning the Lady of the Lake or Machli. Now in her old age the tigress is one of the most popular cats at Ranthambore having been spotted by the maximum number of tourists. Despite her failing health there are many tourists who come to Ranthambore just to see her.
"For the first time we have had so many tourists coming to the national park so early. In fact the booking for October 2 is full and we have no capacity," Shekhawat added.
For the first time the park is giving the facility of current online booking.
"Those who come to the park can book their tickets for entry online on the same day. The booking will be on 24 hours. For the morning safari to the park visitors will have to book their tickets between 5 am to 5 pm while for the afternoon session booking will be on from 5 pm to 9 am," Shekhawat added.
Also for the first time the park has been divided into eight zones for safari rides. While five of these routes are within the national park two are at the Sawai Man Singh sanctuary and one at the Sawai Madhopur Park. For Sariska too the promises could not have been better. The gap after the relocation of three tigers to the reserve from Ranthambore ended a couple of months ago with the relocation of two more tigers taking the total to five. "Though it is difficult to say as to whether there will be a rush but with five tigers in the reserve we hope that more people come this time," said KK Garg, the field director of the reserve. Incidentally, the National Wildlife Week too begins from Friday and both the venues would hold numerous competitions.
"We would be hosting painting competitions, photography competitions and a host of other events in collaboration with the WWF and Stripes," said Shekhawat.
The WWF also plan to hold street plays in Ranthambore during the week to spread the message of a peaceful coexsistance between villagers, foresters and animals at the park.
According to R S Shekhawat, director of the national park, "It sure is a promising season for tourists. It is after a gap of two years that cubs have been bon here and they will fill the vacuum left by the relocation of two tigers from here to Sariska recently." As always all eye at Ranthambore would be scanning the Lady of the Lake or Machli. Now in her old age the tigress is one of the most popular cats at Ranthambore having been spotted by the maximum number of tourists. Despite her failing health there are many tourists who come to Ranthambore just to see her.
"For the first time we have had so many tourists coming to the national park so early. In fact the booking for October 2 is full and we have no capacity," Shekhawat added.
For the first time the park is giving the facility of current online booking.
"Those who come to the park can book their tickets for entry online on the same day. The booking will be on 24 hours. For the morning safari to the park visitors will have to book their tickets between 5 am to 5 pm while for the afternoon session booking will be on from 5 pm to 9 am," Shekhawat added.
Also for the first time the park has been divided into eight zones for safari rides. While five of these routes are within the national park two are at the Sawai Man Singh sanctuary and one at the Sawai Madhopur Park. For Sariska too the promises could not have been better. The gap after the relocation of three tigers to the reserve from Ranthambore ended a couple of months ago with the relocation of two more tigers taking the total to five. "Though it is difficult to say as to whether there will be a rush but with five tigers in the reserve we hope that more people come this time," said KK Garg, the field director of the reserve. Incidentally, the National Wildlife Week too begins from Friday and both the venues would hold numerous competitions.
"We would be hosting painting competitions, photography competitions and a host of other events in collaboration with the WWF and Stripes," said Shekhawat.
The WWF also plan to hold street plays in Ranthambore during the week to spread the message of a peaceful coexsistance between villagers, foresters and animals at the park.
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