Cong MP seeks 'World Tiger Capital' title for Nagpur

Describing Nagpur as "Tiger Gateway of India", a senior Congress MP from Maharashtra today asked the Centre to declare the city as "World Tiger Capital".

"Vidarbha has 80 per cent of Maharashtra's forest cover which is home to varied flora and fauna. Out of the 40 tiger reserves of India, 13 are near Nagpur.

"Nagpur today is the Tiger Gateway of India. Therefore, there has been a constant demand to declare Nagpur as World Tiger Capital," Vilas B Muttemwar said placing the matter under special mention in the Lok Sabha.

He said there are concerns about security and other arrangements for safeguarding and protecting tigers in wildlife sanctuaries.

"Reports appearing in media and other sources indicate that highly technically trained and organised gang is engaged in poaching resulting in their killings. It is learnt that 337 tigers lost their lives due to the activities of various gangs operating in the wildlife sanctuaries during the last 10 years," Muttemwar said.

He said that despite spending Rs 600 crores during 2008-12 for tiger conservation efforts, "the basics including patrolling, field monitoring, detection and enforcement are all in a sorry state of affairs."

"With a view to check the continued instances of poaching by organised gangs of criminals and smugglers, I would urge upon the Government to ask the CBI and other enforcement agencies to stop the nefarious activities of poachers and smugglers, to release Rs 400 crore to strengthen security and other measures, and to declare Nagpur as World Tiger Capital," the MP said.

He said that organised gangs of criminals are responsible for killing of 25 tigers.