Context:
Chhattisgarh establishes the Guru Ghasidas-Tamor Pingla Tiger Reserve, the third-largest tiger reserve in India.
More on the news
- The Chhattisgarh government has cleared the pending project of creating a new dedicated Tiger Reserve.
- The decision comes after the Chattisgarh High Court, while hearing a PIL on July 15, granted four weeks to the state government to clear its stand on declaring that area a tiger reserve.
- National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA), has already approved the plan.
- The new Tiger Reserve will come into existence by integrating the regions of Guru Ghasidas National Park and Tamor Pingla Sanctuary covering the districts of Manendragarh-Chirmiri-Bharatpur, Koriya, Surajpur and Balrampur.
- The state government has notified the Guru Ghasidas-Tamor Pingla Tiger Reserve spanning over an area of 2829.38 sq km.
- According to the latest tiger census report, Chhattisgarh has only 17 tigers left, a steep decline from 46 in 2014.
Significance
- The formation of the new Tiger Reserve is expected to increase the number of tigers owing to the given region remaining more protected and shielded, ideally suited as a natural habitat for tigers.
- The creation of the Tiger Reserve will further promote eco-tourism, generate new employment opportunities and augment economic benefits for local communities.
Largest Tiger Reserves of India
- Nagarjunasagar Srisailam Tiger Reserve (Andhra Pradesh): area of 3296.31 sq km.
- Assam’s Manas Tiger Reserve (Assam): area of 2837.15 sq km.
Tiger Reserve
- It is the protected area that is notified as such under section 38 V of the Wildlife (Protection) Act 1972 (vide Amendment of 2006).
- The State Govt shall, on the recommendation of the Tiger Conservation Authority notify an area under Tiger Reserve
- The following steps are involved in the notification:
Proposal is obtained from the State.
- In-principle approval is communicated from the National Tiger Conservation Authority, soliciting detailed proposals under section 38V of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.
- The National Tiger Conservation Authority recommends the proposal to the State after due diligence.
- The State Government notifies the area as a Tiger Reserve.