Tiger reserve gets Rs 104-cr grant to relocate villages

[Vipin Sharma]

1,400square km is the total area of Ranthambore National Park
400square km is the actual area the tigers are confined to
40 tigers inhabit the reserve


Tigers’ roars are set to become louder at the Ranthambore National Park as the central government has sanctioned a grant of Rs 104 crore — the largest for a tiger reserve till date — for relocating ten nearby villages located inside the park. Wildlife officials believe the move will clear an area of 300 sq kilometers, enough to accommodate over ten tigers.

They also hope it would contribute to the longevity of the big cats at the park, which often witness territorial fights due to shortage of space. Last year such fights among the tigers led to the death of a tigress and it took a lot of effort by forest officials to save its cubs from the grown-up cats. At present 44 tigers inhabit the reserve. Though its total area is a little less than 1,400 sq km the tigers are confined to an area less than 400 sq km of the core area. The villages identified for relocation include Katholi, Bhir and Mordoongri.

Though the Rajasthan government had sought aid of Rs 130 crore for relocating the villages to protect the tigers, the central government has sanctioned only Rs 104 crore. However, it is still the biggest grant to a tiger reserve in the country for relocating human habitations. According to wildlife officials, the grant would be utilised to compensate the villagers in Ranthambore who voluntarily give up their land inside the forest and choose to settle outside. Each family would be paid Rs 10 lakh apart from a piece of land.

This is not the first instance that villages are being relocated from Ranthambore. Last year too the authorities had relocated a few villages and managed to add 60 sq km to the park’s area. A majority of residents of these villages were shifted to Sawai Madhopur.

Chief wildlife warden RN Mehrotra said the grant has been released and the process for relocation will be initiated at the earliest. “The move will benefit all as the villagers will not only get land but also cash, while the tigers would get more space”, he added.

Meanwhile, in a related development, the central government has agreed to fund 12 of Rajasthan’s 25 wildlife sanctuaries for equipping personnel for effective monitoring of animals and for raising the infrastructure necessary to maintain their natural habitat.

The grant would facilitate procurement of wireless communications sets as well as construction of forest outposts and their maintenance, besides census activity for wild animals and maintenance of the sanctuary.