The decision by the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs to set up eight new tiger reserves in the country under the 11th Plan period is a welcome move as long as it is more than a knee-jerk reaction. This was one of the recommendations of the Tiger Task Force constituted following the disappearance of tigers in some parks.
The new reserves would be in Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Orissa, Karnataka, Assam and Madhya Pradesh. A total of Rs 600 crore has been allocated for the reserves, with a major portion of almost Rs 500 crore meant for relocation of villages from forest land. Karnataka will be adding two more reserves with Dandeli and Anshi sanctuaries while Kaziranga and Mudumalai are two of the prominent parks to be added to the list. There already are 28 tiger reserves.
The tiger population in the country has declined alarmingly from 4000 in 2002 to 1400, according to latest estimates. Even these dismal figures have been contested by various states and experts who believe the number to be far lower. The Project Tiger was launched in 1973 and initially saw a positive trend as the numbers of tigers went up from 1827 to 3600 in the 90s. And then Sariska happened, followed by Panna and Bandhavgarh. Sustained poaching was eliminating the species in some areas. Caught in this was the other question of villagers and other local tribes. Accused of being hand in glove with poachers in many cases, it opened up a new battlefront between human rights groups and wildlifers. Almost 150 districts of India, which fall among the poorest and are tribal areas, also happen to be prime tiger habitats.
It was in this light that the Tribal Bill that gives the inhabitants rights to land within forests was passed in 2006.
It now awaits government notification and is being bitterly contested by some as a sell-out. With 20 million tribal families and each to be given 2.5 hectares, this would take away 50 million hectares of the 68 million hectares forest land! Any attempt to relocate people from forest lands would give a reprieve for the animal. Tough as it is, in many instances it has been shown to work. Given the alarming rate at which the tiger population is declining, it is imperative to allocate some inviolate space for the animal. With protection, the species has a good chance to recover and flourish. The vacancies in the forest department, which is dangerously top-heavy at present, have to be filled up. Hopefully, at least the Rs 100 crore that remains after relocation will be deployed to make sure that the forest officials are equipped and good living conditions created which motivate them to do a good job.
