Uttranchal wants parts of Corbett in UP for effective management

Uttranchal wants parts of Corbett in UP for effective management
S.M.A. KAZMI

DEHRA DUN, FEB 17: Uttaranchal government has urged the Central Government to amend the Uttar Pradesh Reorganisation Act, 2000 in order to hand over certain areas of Corbett National Park and proposed Rajaji National Park falling in the mother state of Uttar Pradesh.

Talking to mediapersons on the occasion of the first 100 days of his government, Uttaranchal Chief Minister Nityanand Swami said here today that in the wake of the killings of five elephants in the Corbett NationalPark recently, the Prime Minister and the Union Home Minister have been urged to make the necessary amendments in the UP Reorganisation Act, 2000 to hand over more than 22 square kilometers of areas of these wild life parks falling under Binour and Saharanpur districts of Uttar Pradesh to Uttaranchal.

Even after the creation of Uttaranchal state, some areas of these parks had remained with the mother state facilitating the entry of alleged poachers into the park areas, Swami said.

The Chief Minister informed that more than 20 per cent of the geographic area of Uttaranchal state falls under the 12 protected parks, sanctuaries and biospheres. The state government has also requested the Centre togive adequate funds for the proper upkeep of these protected areas.Regarding the division of assets and liabilities between Uttar Pradesh and Uttaranchal, he said that his government is trying hard to remove theshortcomings of the Uttar Pradesh Reorganisation Act, 2000 -- particularly in the power sector.