Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav said, the tiger reserves are not just for tigers, but they are far more vital as more than 35 rivers originate from these areas which are crucial for water security.
The Minister was speaking at the 19th Meeting of National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) held in New Delhi yesterday.
Mr Yadav said, there are 51 Tiger Reserves in the country and efforts are being made to bring more areas under Tiger Reserve network. He said, tiger continues to be an endangered species and the situation calls for active management of tiger population. He said, for effective management of tiger population it is imperative to have reliable estimate of tiger number at Tiger Reserve and Landscape Level. The 5th cycle of All India Tiger Estimation which is currently underway will help in taking correct policy decision.
Referring to poaching, Mr Bhupender Yadav said that air-gun problem in north eastern states is an issue and the states and Union Territories have been advised by the ministry for organising awareness program so that people can surrender their airguns.
As part of effective regulation of tourism activity in the Tiger Reserves, Mr Yadav said, there should be one core area which should be sacrosanct and vehicular movement in the reserve should be one way.
The Minister also informed that till now 14 Tiger Reserves have been accredited under CA|TS and NTCA is working on getting other Tiger Reserves evaluated for CA|TS accreditation.
The Minister said that Prime Minister is keen on protection and conservation of 7 major big cats including Cheetah and these numbering 50 over a period of 5 years will be introduced in various parks.
At the meeting, the Environment Minister unveiled the Action Plan for introduction of Cheetah in India, that has become extinct in independent India. He also released a Water Atlas, mapping all the water bodies in the tiger bearing areas of India. Landscape wise information have been outlined in this water atlas which include, the Shivalik Hills and Gangetic plain landscape, Central Indian Landscape and Eastern Ghats, Western Ghats landscape, North Eastern Hills and Brahmaputra flood plains and Sundarbans.
During the meeting Mr Yadav informed that ‘India for Tigers: A Rally on Wheels’, organized under the aegis of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav by Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change was a mega success. The rally saw an active involvement of diverse range of stakeholders – forest officials, school and college students, media persons, local communities and representatives from NGOs.
Members of Parliament Diya Kumari, Rajeev Pratap Ruddy and Harshvardhan Singh Dungarpur, Secretary Leena Nadan and DG Forest Chandra Prakash Goyal were present at the meeting among others.
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