The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh / Hyderabad News : Eviction of tribals to save tigers

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Thursday, Mar 20, 2008
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

Eviction of tribals to save tigers

Special Correspondent

HYDERABAD: The Government has decided to evict tribals from all the 32 existing habitations in the Rajiv Gandhi Tiger Reserve that lies between Nagarjunasagar and Srisailam, spread over four districts, to save the dwindling tiger population in the State.

Announcing this in the Assembly on Wednesday while replying to a debate on his proposal to thank Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and private channel NDTV, through a resolution, for the interest they had evinced in saving the tiger, Forest Minister S. Vijayarama Raju said the Girijan families likely to be affected by the eviction would, however, be offered an attractive compensation package.

Compensation package

The package would allow Rs. 10 lakh each to the affected families, apart from allotment of houses, etc.

The Minister said the situation was encouraging now because cameras installed in the reserves showed some cubs moving about. As part of the conservation effort, the Government had increased the field staff and employed 280 tribals as tiger spotters. In addition, nearly 150 eco-clubs were formed.

He hoped that the tigers would grow in number by next year as a result of these efforts.

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Andhra Pradesh