In-principle approval given to 4 new tiger reserves: govt

The National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) has given in-principle approval for creation of four new tiger reserves in Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Assam and Chhattisgarh, Lok Sabha was informed today.
"The in-principle approval has been accorded by the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) for creation of four new tiger reserves in Ratapani (MP), Sunabeda (Odisha), Guru Ghasidas (Chhattisgarh) and Orang (Assam)," Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar said in a written reply.
He said the state governments have been advised to send proposals for declaring Suhelwa(UP), Mhadei(Goa), Srivilliputhur Grizzled Giant Squirrel/ Megamalai Wildlife Sanctuaries/ Varushanadu Valley (TN), Dibang (Arunachal Pradesh) and Cauveri MM Hills (Karnataka) as tiger reserves.

Javadekar said the assessment of status of tigers, co-predators and their prey in 2014, using refined methodology, has shown a country-wide 30 per cent increase in the number of tiger with an estimated number of 2226 (range (1954-2491) as compared to the 2010 estimation of 1706 (range 1520-1909).
He said NTCA and Wildlife Institute of India (WII) have identified potential bottlenecks, obstacles and weak links within these corridors which are due to the presence of habitation, poor forest cover, encroachments, land use other than forest and geographical barriers.