NEWSLINKS US EDITION SOUTH ASIA COLUMNISTS DIARY SPECIALS INTERVIEWS CAPITAL BUZZ REDIFF POLL THE STATES ELECTIONS ARCHIVES US ARCHIVES SEARCH REDIFF
Imran Khan in Bhubaneswar
India's elite paramilitary forces are going to protect the Simlipal Biosphere Reserve in Orissa.
The step is being taken to protect the tiger and the elephant population, as well as to combat the timber mafia operations, official sources in the state forest department said.
Chief Wildlife Warden of the state SK Patnaik said the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests has consented to sponsor a company of Central Reserve Police Force or Central Industrial Security Force for round-the-year vigilance on the biosphere reserve.
"Simlipal is going to be the first of its kind in the state, which will be protected by the paramilitary forces," Patnaik said.
Rs 9.1 million would be released towards the project from the funds earmarked for Project Tiger, he said.
The Simlipal biosphere reserve, besides the Manas Tiger project in Assam, is the only project being considered for this facility.
The move by the forest department has been inspired by the success of a similar strategy sponsored and implemented by the Central Reserve Police Force at Barbara forest in Khurda district.
As a result, the wildlife population of the Barbara forest had gone up. Illegal felling of trees was also checked, Patnaik added.
The project at Simlipal has gained importance as it houses 98 tigers.
The reserve is spread over an area of 2,750 sq km comprising the Kuldiha Sanctuary in Balasore district and Hadgarh Sanctuary in Keonjhar district.
Back to top
Tell us what you think of this report
