Naxal presence hampers patrol in tiger reserves

The National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) has raised concern with the Union Environment Ministry over the difficulty faced by forest officials in patrolling the tiger reserves owing to the presence of Naxalites.

In a recent meeting of the NTCA chaired by Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav, the members said the presence of Maoists in the Kanha Tiger Reserve in Madhya Pradesh has caused a serious fear psychosis among field personnel.

“The expert member sought special permission from the Chair to highlight the issue of Left-wing extremism (LWE) in the Kanha Tiger Reserve. This problem has gradually escalated, starting from portions of core critical areas of Kanha Tiger Reserve falling within Balaghat district to the areas of Mandla district. The Naxalite presence is causing a serious fear psychosis among field personnel deployed in remote patrolling camps (backbone of the protection system) of the tiger reserve,” said NTCA member Dr HS Negi, according to the minutes of the meeting accessed by The Tribune.

He said the Bamhni Dadar plateau, one of the reserve’s key habitats for tigers, has been converted into a large campsite for security forces (Hawk Force), which itself is detrimental to the ecological integrity of Kanha.

“The state of Madhya Pradesh needs to strategically address this issue without adverse consequences to the tiger reserve besides shifting the Hawk Force establishment from Bamhni Dadar to adjoining areas in the buffer zones of the Kanha Tiger Reserve,” Negi said. This is the second time that NTCA has raised concern over the presence of Naxals inside tiger reserves.

In 2024, NTCA said the LWE has impeded forestry operations in Jharkhand’s lone tiger reserve, Palamu Tiger Reserve. Forest officials from Palamu Tiger Reserve had said Naxals have eaten into one of the country’s oldest tiger reserves.

Officials have also pointed out that the core zone of the tiger reserve is inaccessible due to the presence of Maoists so conservation efforts cannot be taken in those areas. As a result, the tiger census is not conducted there.

India