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New project for tiger conservation

BHUBANESWAR: The Union Ministry of Environment and Forests has come forward to implement a new project for tiger conservation in Similipal Tiger Reserve by involving the RBS Foundation of the Royal Bank of Scotland Group.

The project, first of its kind in the country to be implemented in public-private partnership (PPP) mode, will involve an expenditure of Rs. 10 crores to provide livelihood support to the people living in the buffer and fringe areas of the tiger reserve. The project will be launched shortly, according to Union Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh, who has been taking special interest for the tiger conservation in Similipal.

Mr. Ramesh and Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik were likely to attend the launching ceremony.

“It’s a landmark initiative wherein we are involving the private sector to help in the management of extended tiger habitats,” said Mr. Ramesh during his visit to the State.

The funds to be provided by the RBS Foundation for the project will be utilised over a period of three years. If necessary, the project will be extended with the foundation releasing additional funds.

Although Similipal was the main tiger habitat in the State, it has just 20 tigers as per the last all India estimation done in 2008. The State government, however, claims that the reserve has 100 tigers.

Following the visit of a team of tiger experts from the Centre to Similipal in November last, the Union Ministry of Environment has urged the State government to rebuild the damaged infrastructure of Similipal, expedite village relocation and fill up of the vacant posts.

Out of the total sanctioned staff strength of 281 for Similipal, as many as 101 were lying vacant at present.

The Union Ministry has also requested the State government to prepare a special plan for the buffer zone of Similipal to provide livelihood options to local people.

As the notified buffer of Similipal had not been placed under the administrative control of the Field Director, the Centre has also asked the State government to expedite the matter.

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