Chhattisgarh to get nation’s third largest tiger reserve
Raipur, August 7
The Chhattisgarh Government on Wednesday decided to declare a new tiger reserve covering areas of Guru Ghasidas National Park and Tamor Pingla Wildlife Sanctuary in the state to promote eco-tourism and create jobs, an official said.
This will be the fourth tiger reserve in the state after Indravati (in Bijapur district), Udanti-Sitanadi (Gariaband) and Achanakmar (Mungeli). The National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) had given its in-principle approval to the project in 2014. The decision was taken in the cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai here at his official residence, he said.
Guru Ghasidas-Tamor Pingla tiger reserve will be the country’s third largest tiger reserve spread over 2,829.387 sq km. Nagarjunasagar Srisailam tiger reserve in Andhra Pradesh is India's largest such reserve with an area of 3,296.31 sq km, followed by Assam's Manas tiger reserve, spread over 2,837.1 sq km, he said.
The creation of the Guru Ghasidas-Tamor Pingla tiger reserve will lead to the development of eco-tourism and generate employment opportunities for villagers living in its core and buffer areas, a government statement said. As per the recommendation of the State Wildlife Board and the consent of NTCA, Union Ministry of Forest and Climate Change, the cabinet has decided to notify Guru Ghasidas-Tamor Pingla Tiger Reserve spanning over an area of 2,829.387 sq km, it said. — PTI
