Decade on, states yet to release notification of 7 tiger reserves

Despite receiving approval from the Centre, several state governments have delayed the final notification of seven tiger reserves for over a decade.

Tiger reserves are officially notified by state governments after receiving in-principle approval from the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA), a statutory body under the Environment Ministry. However, states, including Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, Assam, and Arunachal Pradesh, are yet to issue notifications for these reserves.

According to a document accessed by The Tribune, the NTCA recently wrote to the chief wildlife wardens of these states, urging them to expedite the notification process.

When a sanctuary is declared as a tiger reserve, several restrictions, including limits on tourism and tourism infrastructure, bans on linear infrastructure projects, construction inside the reserve, and the movement of people within the reserve, are imposed.

In Karnataka, for instance, the MM Hills Wildlife Sanctuary has been awaiting the state government’s approval to upgrade to a tiger reserve since 2014, when the NTCA granted in-principle approval. Sources from the Karnataka Forest Department suggest that the delay stems from the government’s interest in pursuing a hydel project, which would not be feasible if the sanctuary were declared a tiger reserve. The sanctuary currently houses 25 tigers.

Similarly, the Ratapani Wildlife Sanctuary in Madhya Pradesh and the Sunabeda Wildlife Sanctuary in Odisha have been awaiting state approval for notification as tiger reserves since 2008. Ratapani, home to 56 tigers, has seen repeated requests from the Environment Ministry in 2015, 2016, 2022, and 2024 to expedite the process, but no action has been taken.

Chhattisgarh’s Guru Ghasidas National Park and Tamor Pingia Wildlife Sanctuary received in-principle approval in 2021, yet the state has not moved forward with their notification. The same holds true for Dibang Wildlife Sanctuary in Arunachal Pradesh and Kaimur Wildlife Sanctuary in Bihar, both of which received NTCA approval in 2021 but notification for the same has not been issued.

The Assam Government, despite receiving approval, has also delayed the notification of Karbi Anglong Sanctuary.

“Most states hesitate to notify sanctuaries as tiger reserves because it would mean relocating people living inside forest areas,” an NTCA official told The Tribune. “In MM Hills Sanctuary, for instance, there is a temple that attracts large crowds. If it becomes a tiger reserve, restrictions will follow, including halting infrastructure projects, which is a concern for many states. Our aim is to create inviolate spaces for tigers.”

Nod from national conservation body

• Tiger reserves are officially notified by state governments after receiving in-principle approval from the National Tiger Conservation Authority, a statutory body under the Environment Ministry
• States, including Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, Assam, and Arunachal Pradesh, are yet to issue notifications for these reserves
• When a sanctuary is declared as a tiger reserve, several restrictions, including limits on tourism and tourism infrastructure, bans on linear infrastructure projects, construction inside the reserve, and the movement of people within the reserve, are imposed