'Speed up Gujjars’ rehabilitation'

Amid growing concerns over the dwindling population of tigers in the country, Indian Board for Wildlife has advised the Uttarakhand government to take steps for better conservation of Corbett Tiger Reserve. With the centre sanctioning Rs 25 crore for rehabilitation of Gujjars residing in and around Jim Corbett National Park, onus is on the state government to clear the area of human interference, IBWL member Brijendra Singh said. "The Uttarakhand government must utilise this golden opportunity to rehabilitate Gujjars," Singh said. Singh, who is also the honorary wildlife warden of the park, said there are over 160 Gujjar families, who are still residing in and around the CTR. Each family is expected to get Rs 10 lakh in this regard, he said, adding more money can be given for the rehabilitation if the package is not sufficient.

To enable better patrolling of the park area where poaching incidents are common, Singh said the state government should immediately recruit people for over nearly 35 vacant posts of forest guards in the CTR. He said another big issue plaguing India's first national park is the mushrooming growth of tourist resorts around the place especially in the Ramnagar area. Most of these resorts came up after Uttarakhand came into being in 2000 and these have blocked the corridors being used by wild animals especially elephants, he said. "Some of these resorts at Sunderkhal area, if not all, should be removed," Singh said, adding this will also augment the drinking water supply to the park area. Due to the tourists resorts, the noise pollution level has increased in the CTR area, Singh said, adding, "Some of the resorts have also set up discotheques which create high decibel sounds." Singh also asked park authorities to undertake a fresh survey to ascertain the status of alleged encroachment in Ramnagar area of the Kumaon region. He also advised the government to include certain parts of Landsdown division of Pauri district into CTR for creating a better eco-system. "If these areas are included, we will get some new rivulets which will be a boon to the eco-system," he said.