NTCA approves tiger conservation plans in 11 states, bans monsoon tourism in 16 reserves
In an RTI, the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) has approved the tiger conservation plan of 16 tiger reserves in 11 states with a condition that no tourism in tiger reserves should be permitted during monsoon.
The apex tiger body has also directed the tiger reserves not to carry out tourism in those areas of reserves, which were vacated by villagers. It has also advised the forest departments to not camp after sunset and monitor the movements of tiger, water point and the number of cattle hunted by the tigers everyday.
The decision to close tiger reserves during monsoon was taken keeping in factors such as breeding period of wildlife animals and safety of tourists.
“Under no circumstance should monsoon tourism and tourism in village rehabilitated sites be carried out,” NTCA said.
Wildlife conservationist Giridhar Kulkarni who obtained the information under RTI welcomed the ban on tourism during monsoon.
“The stand taken by the NTCA to prohibit tourism during monsoon season and also in areas vacated by people who have been rehabilitated is a welcome step. In fact, both the decisions of NTCA are based on its own advisories issued earlier. The Competent Authority had approved closure of all Tiger Reserves as per recommendation of Technical Committee NTCA held on July 28, 2015, for a minimum period of three months, extending up to 5 months, keeping in mind the factors such as breeding period of wild animal especially tigers, condition of forest roads and repair thereof and safety of tourists/visitors,” he said.
Kulkarni also said that it is equally important to ensure employment and alternate livelihood for the people who are solely dependent on tourism.
However, despite the NTCA’s direction to the tiger reserves in 2015 to close tourism during monsoon several tiger reserves in Karnataka and Kerala remain open.
The Union environment ministry in the past had also directed the field directors of all tiger reserves to step up surveillance activities against poaching during monsoon as several areas inside the reserves become inaccessible.
“As you are aware, during monsoon our Protected Areas and Tiger Reserves become inaccessible, which calls for a specific protection strategy considering the terrain and other site-specific problems. During this period, the Tiger Reserve/Protected Area is vulnerable to illicit grazing, felling of trees as well poaching, which necessitate surveillance,” environment ministry had said.
List of tiger reserves whose conservation plan were approved
1- Kamlang Tiger Reserve -Arunachal Pradesh
2- Manas Tiger Reser -Assam
3- Orang Tiger Reserve-Assam
4- Indravati Tiger Reserve- Chhattisgarh
5- Palamu Tiger Reserve-Jharkhand
6- Periya Tiger Reserve-Kerala
7- Parambikulum Tiger Reserve-Kerala
8- Kanha Tiger Reserve-Madhya Pradesh
9- Panna Tiger Reserve-Madhya Pradesh
10- Sanjay Tiger Reserve-Madhya Pradesh
11- Nawegaon-Nagzira Tiger Rserve- Maharashtra
12- Ranthambore Tiger Reserve- Rajasthan
13- Sathyamangalam Tiger Reserve-Tamil Nadu
14- Pilibhit Tiger Reserve- Uttar Pradesh
15- Sundarbans Tiger Reserve-West Bengal
16- Amargarh Tiger Reserve-Uttar Pradesh
India