By Ankita Garg :
COVID-19 pandemic has thrown various projects of MP Forest and Wildlife
off track including translocation of Asiatic lion, Cheetah, development
of new wildlife sanctuaries as well. The Forest Department has
submitted its draft for 15 new wildlife sanctuaries, wildlife wing was
expecting translocation of Asiatic lion from Gujarat and cheetah from
African countries.
To
set up new wildlife sanctuaries, District Forest Officers identified
possible areas in their districts where sanctuaries and parks can be
developed. Directions were given to mark 200 hectare land for each
sanctuary. The proposal aimed to increase revenue from tourism sector by
200 crores. There were also proposal for wildlife entertainment zone to
attract tourists. There was separate proposal of developing Ratapani
and Mandata as National Park. Talking to ‘The Hitavada’, Principal Chief
Conservator of Forest (PCCF) Alok Kumar said, “Draft for new wildlife
sanctuaries has been submitted already to the Government by the Wildlife
Wing. This was really a good initiative for better conservation of
wildlife.
But
currently, all projects have been put on hold due to pandemic. We are
also focusing on safety of animals as well as staff from the deadly
virus.” He further said the pandemic has paralysed entire working and
many people have been left unemployed as their livelihood depended on
tourism only. Though national parks and buffer zone of tiger reserves
have been kept open during monsoon but number of visitors is very less.
https://www.thehitavada.com/Encyc/2020/7/20/COVID-19-pandemic-throws-wildlife-projects-off-track.html
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