Sanjay Kumar Pandey:
The ‘Palamu Tiger Project’ has a different place in the state of Jharkhand. On visiting this project area, from natural beauty to various animals and birds can be seen. The one who comes here , does not will to leave. Palamu Tiger Project is located in the western part of Chotanagpur plateau of newly created Jharkhand state under Latehar district. Its forests are surrounded by the Netarhat mountain range in the south, the Auranga river in the north, the forests of the Latehar forest division in the east and the Sarguja district of Chhattisgarh in the west.
palamu Tiger Reserve is very important in the view of biodiversity. Sal forests, mixed deciduous forests and bamboo groves are mainly available in the project area. The ‘Palamu Tiger Reserve’ is also the catchment area of three important rivers of the state – Koel, Budha and Auranga. Scientific management of these forests started from 1864 AD and a large area has been notified as Reserve Forest, Reserve Forest, Shelter and National Park in different years. In the year 1974, out of the nine parks selected for the Tiger Scheme, Palamu was also selected for the Tiger Scheme. It is spread over an area of 1026 Sq.km, of which 226 Sq.Km area of 414.08 Sq.Km area has been identified as Tourist Zone for tourism.
This entire buffer area is under the control of the Conservator of Forests cum Area Director. Area of Tiger Project Zone is 1306.79 sq km, area of Tiger Reserve is 1026 sq km, area of Betla National Park is 226.32 sq km, area of Buffer Area, Tiger Project, Daltonganj is 730.89 sq km, core area, area of Tiger Project, Daltonganj is 575.90 sq. km is. Buffer area, Tiger Project, Daltonganj has Garu East, Garu West, Baresand and Mahuadand areas and core areas, Tiger Project, Daltonganj has Betla, Chhiddohar East, Chhiddohar West and Kutku fields. The main tourist places under this project are Raja Mediniray Fort, Kamaldah Lake, Lodh Waterfall, Sugabandh Waterfall, Tataha Waterfall, Mirchaiya Falls and the confluence of Koel-Auranga-Kechki and the main rivers include North Koel River, Oranga River. and Budha river are mainly involved. In addition, dozens of small and big drains flow throughout the project area. Since 25 years, under the ‘Tiger Project’, special attention has been paid to the protection and protection of all wild animals including tigers and other small and big animals in these forests, in addition to the promotion of their habitat i.e. forest and vegetation.
The number of main wild animals according to the current figures are as follows: Tiger – 17, Leopard – 52, Chital – 13088, Sambhar-1168, Vaison – 198, Wild bore – 13814, Elephant – 216, Haiina – 323, Piafwal – 3660, Deer-1412, Barking Deer – 2165 Monkey – 58,344, Longgar – 41,389, Sloth Bear – 521 and Wolff-508. In addition to tigers, leopards, elephants and gaurs, animals like bear, wood, koia, hood, sambar, chital, sahil, kotra, mouse deer, hanuman, monkey etc. are found in large numbers in these forests. Altogether 47 species of mammals and 174 species of birds have been identified so far. In addition, 970 plant species, 17 grass species and 56 other important medicinal plants have been identified.
The ‘Palamu Tiger Scheme’ receives funds for establishment and recurring expenditure under central assistance under sponsored scheme 50:50 (half central and half state) and for non-recurring expenditure, the amount is available in 100 percent centrally run plan head. In the financial year 2008-09, the allocation under non-plan head was Rs 346.063 crore, in which Rs 341.432 crore was spent. Plan item allocation in the ratio of 50:50 was Rs 112.19 crore, against which 79.80 crore was spent. 79.80 crores was allocated under the plan item 100 percent, against which 56.80 crores were spent. The allocation from the State Plan head was Rs.217.292 crore, against which an expenditure of Rs.216.246 crore was incurred.
After the creation of a new state in the ‘Palamu Tiger Yojna’ zone, till now a total of 4630.88 hectares i.e. 20.40 km linear afforestation work has been done. The number of tourists visiting Betla has decreased in the last five years. There are many reasons behind this. But, efforts have been made to promote it again, under which the management and protection of tourist lodge and dormitory in Keed is proposed through ‘Ked Eco Development Committee’. In the year 2004, the rate of all forest rest houses and tourist lodges of Tiger Scheme was revised by the state government, in which the rate of dormitory located at Ked was also fixed at Rs 250 per day per day, whereas earlier it was charged on the basis of per bed.
used to go. Since, most of the lower middle class tourists come to this area and the rate of dormitory per bed in Betla hotels is less, in such situation, and also for security reasons, tourists prefer to stay in Betla instead of Ked. Huh. Keeping this in mind, it has been proposed to reduce the fee by giving the responsibility of its management and safety to the Ked Eco Development Committee. In the past, the Kechki Forest Rest house has been the most popular resting place for tourists under the Tiger Scheme area, but it has been deserted since it was ransacked by militants in the year 1990.
It has been repaired two years ago, by forming a committee of its three border villages, in which the local villagers have also donated. The responsibility of its management and security has been given to the committee made up of these three villages. For this, a proposal for approval of the old rate of Rs 50 per room per day has also been sent to the department, so that the movement of tourists can be started here as before. Approval has been received from the state government on the proposal of formation of strike force for the Palamu tiger area. This strike force is to be formed by ex-servicemen. Action is to be taken for its formation after getting approval from the state government.
