Union Minister of State for Environment and Forests Jairam Ramesh announced in Sariska on Wednesday Rs.30 crore for shifting villages from the Sariska Tiger Reserve. On a visit to the reserve after the death of CP1, one of the five tigers released there as part of the re-introduction of tigers, Mr. Ramesh expressed his concern over the incident but gave the go-ahead to his team there for the continuation of the programme.
A clear indication of this was Mr. Ramesh's instructions to the senior officials of the Forest Department to get ready with the plan for shifting yet another tiger to Sariska. The tiger in question was also identified as the male which recently had intruded into the world-famous Keoladeo National Park near Bharatpur. The clearances in this regard from the National Tiger Conservation Authority would be sought, he said.
Rajesh Gopal, Member-Secretary of NTCA, and Brajendra Singh, Member, accompanied him.
After arriving from Delhi at 9 a.m., Mr. Ramesh discussed the recent developments with the Park staff and senior officials of the Forest Department. He individually asked them what they thought could be the reason for the tiger's death. He also discussed the issue with members of the Wildlife Institute of India, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests R.N. Mehrotra, Chief Wildlife Warden and the Field Director of the Park.
Later accompanied by a caravan of seven to eight vehicles he visited the hamlet Kala Keth, where the partly decomposed body of the male tiger was spotted on Sunday evening. He also talked to villagers in the area and asked them why they did not report the death of the animal.
Talking to journalists at Sariska, Mr. Ramesh said the shifting of villages would be carried out speedily. He asked Dr. Gopal to allocate Rs.30 crore towards the expenses.
