By NNN-PTI,
New Delhi : As the Maharashtra state government awaits Environment Ministry’s nod for notification on the newly created Sahyadri tiger park, there is a word of caution from the wildlife experts.
Worried over the ongoing bauxite mining activities on the periphery of the tiger park, they stress on adequate steps to curb the mining activity least the wildlife is threatened by people.
“The mines which are in proximity to the park have to be either stopped or controlled. Otherwise all efforts and money will go down the drain,” Ashok Kumar of Wildlife Trust of India (WTI) says.
He pointed out that the noise due to blasts and heavy machinery besides regular biotic pressure on the Reserve for fire wood and fodder from the mine workers will disturb the habitat as has happened in Panna Tiger reserve where Supreme Court has sought closure of the mines.
The Maharashtra state government has submitted a draft notification of the newly approved reserve to the environment ministry for its nod so as to notify the entire area.
The National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) has given in-principle approval to the park asking the state authorities to give a detail project report.
Maharashtra state already boasts of three tiger reserves — Melghat,Tadoba-Andhari and Pench Tiger Reserves, drawing lakhs of tourists to the parks every year.(One lakh:100,000)
Sahyadri Tiger Reserve will include 317.67 sq km of Chandoli National Park and 423.55 sq km of Koyna Wildlife Sanctuary. The Chandoli National Park was formed in 2004 while Koyna Wildlife Sanctuary was formed in 1985.