Rs 35-lakh plan to end human-tiger conflict

The Indian Express had earlier reported how the plan, submitted in February with NTCA, had been on hold despite the conflict getting acute with each passing month. Following the report, NTCA Member-Secretary Rajesh Gopal discussed it with Principal Chief Conservator of Forest (Wildlife) B Majumdar.

Since January 2006, The Indian Express has reported 35 human deaths in tiger attacks in the forests of TATR. Over 25 persons have been injured.

The funds that have been sanctioned is much in excess of what the state Forest Department had expected and the plan is now ready to roll out. “We will now have a memorandum of understanding with local NGO Tiger Research and Conservation Trust (TRACT) and submit a continuation proposal to the state Government, which would sanction the work order,” Majumdar said.

The training would be on wildlife management — monitoring the carnivores, study their movements and undertake community awareness programmes to reduce human interference.