By IANS,
New Delhi: The environment and forests ministry has allocated Rs.25 crore for the relocation of 181 Gujjar families from core areas of the Corbett National Park in Uttarakhand to reduce man-animal conflict.
Another 400 Gujjar families in the park are to be relocated over a period of time, according to a release issued by the ministry Monday.
“I am extremely happy that the relocation work is being taken up as a priority and that such measures will strengthen tiger conservation efforts,” said Environment and Forests Minister Jairam Ramesh.
According to official figures, there are 1,411 tigers left in the 39 Project Tiger reserves and 663 protected areas in the country.
About 80,000 families are to be relocated from tiger reserves and so far only 3,000 have been relocated. The remaining 77,000 families have to be relocated over the next seven years, for which a total financial package of Rs.8,000 crore would be required.
Ramesh who visited the Corbett Park last week also announced setting up of a world-class Indira Gandhi Interpretation and Learning Centre (IGILC) near the reserve.
The interpretation centre is likely to be completed by the end of 2011 at a cost of Rs.5 crore.