International Tiger Day: Karnataka Govt drags feet on tiger reserve despite Centre’s nod

Aksheev Thakur

New Delhi, July 28

While India claims to house 70 per cent of the world’s tiger population, a wildlife sanctuary in Karnataka awaits the state government’s approval to be upgraded as a tiger reserve.

In 2021, the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) — a statutory body under the Union Environment Ministry — had given its approval to upgrade the MM Hills wildlife sanctuary to a tiger reserve. However, the Karnataka Government is yet to notify it as a tiger reserve given the huge opposition coming from several quarters within the government.

According to sources in Forest Department, Karnataka, politicians are eyeing the forest to use the land for a slew of projects, including a hydel project, which will not be possible if the sanctuary is declared a tiger reserve.

An official said MM Hills had 25 tigers now and if it was declared as a tiger reserve, it would become a safe breeding ground for them, and numerous restrictions would be imposed on the movement of people in the forest.

“If MM Hills is declared a tiger reserve, it would be helpful in the breeding of tigers. MM Hills shares its borders with the Cauvery Wildlife Sanctuary, Biligiri Ranganatha Tiger Reserve and Sathyamangalam Tiger Reserve in Tamil Nadu. Therefore, numerous tiger movements have been observed in these sanctuaries, which are connected to each other. The tiger reserve will act as a bridge between the Western and Eastern Ghats,” a senior forest official told The Tribune.

“A hydel project is also on the cards. If MM Hills is declared as a tiger reserve, it will bring money from the Central Government that could be utilised for protection,” he added.

The sanctuary also houses a temple, which is annually visited by thousands of devotees. If the sanctuary is upgraded as a tiger reserve, many restrictions will be imposed on their visit. “A prominent pilgrimage centre exists within the forest so the government does not want to offend the devotees. It is important to protect the tigers, which have gone extinct in other countries, but in India, we succeeded in reviving their population through extensive measures,” the official said.

Politicians eyeing forest land

According to sources in Forest Department, Karnataka, politicians are eyeing the forest land to use it for a slew of projects, including a hydel project, which will not be possible if the sanctuary is declared a tiger reserve.