Union Minister for Environment and Forests Jairam Ramesh on Friday announced that three new tiger reserves would be notified in Maharashtra — in Navegaon, Nagzira and Bor — and rehabilitation of villages at Tadoba and Melghat would be taken up on priority.
He also said Nagpur, Maharashtra’s second capital, would be promoted as the “gateway to tiger reserves” as it is the entry point to 13 of the 39 tiger reserves in the country. The “Orange City” would also be the first to get a field office of the National Tiger Conservation Authority; two other offices are to be set up elsewhere in the country.
The minister said the Central government had approved an initial grant of Rs 50 crore for the rehabilitation of villages in Melghat and Tadoba tiger reserves.
“Next week, I will be going to Gadchiroli to launch a new scheme. It will open a new era in the relation of forest with people. The paradigm of forest conservation has to change and must make tribals partners in forest management. All rich, mineral, tribal and violence areas overlap. The Forest Department has an important role to play in anti-Naxal actions,” said Ramesh.
http://www.indianexpress.com/news/3-more-tiger-reserves-to-come-up-in-Maharashtra/776901/
