Maharashtra in India gets new tiger reserve

Minister of the State for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Prakash Javadekar yesterday announced that India’s 47th tiger reserve has been started in Maharashtra and that a new tiger protection force had also been constituted by the government.

Javadekar was speaking at a press conference where he listed the tasks undertaken by the government to change the face of the environment ministry.

He said, “We have started a new Tiger Reserve in Maharashtra which is 47th Tiger reserve in the country and have also started a new Tiger protection force,” adding, “E-surveillance has also been started for Tiger protection.”

The Minister said, “Our mandate is protection of the environment, conservation of the forest, conserving and protecting biodiversity, facilitating sustainable development, mainstreaming of environmental concerns and to be transparent on objective regulatory mechanisms.”

Elaborating on key decisions taken by his ministry, he said that the Environment Ministry has tightened the greenhouse gases emission norms for certain industries to keep the pollution levels under check.

The ministry has enabled real time monitoring of Ganga water and the online submission of environmental and forest clearance applications.

He added, “We have proposed the construction of roads, laying telecommunication lines, starting medical colleges, development of minor irrigation canals and water harvesting facilities in Naxal areas.”

Javadekar also said that in last 100 days they have taken decisions keeping environment safety in mind.

“Striking the balance between the needs of the humna and tiger populations is always a difficult job,” says TigerTime’s Vicky Flynn. “But it is good to see that a wide range of initiatives have been discussed and we hope that the new reserve and its tigers will thrive because of this.”