Tiger Reserves

Nagpur: Taking a cue from neighbouring Chhattisgarh where Prime Minister Narendra Modi opened Nandanvan Zoo and tiger safari in Naya Raipur on Tuesday, Maharashtra forest and finance minister Sudhir Mungantiwar has asked officials to consider setting up a tiger safari in Nagpur.
Forest department sources said following minister's suggestion, a meeting of senior forest officials including Nagpur chief conservator of forests (CCF) TSK Reddy, CCF & field director of Pench Tiger Reserve MS Reddy, deputy conservator G Mallikarjuna and others was held on Tuesday.
The officials who discussed probable sites seem to be zeroing in on Ambazari forest, spread over 1,800 acres, as the only possible place for such a project near city. The issue will be discussed with chief wildlife warden Shree Bhagwan, who will take a final call. Work on a biodiversity park is already on at Ambazari.
Mungantiwar on Tuesday did not confirm nor deny to TOI any such development, saying, "Tiger and leopard safari are among my budget announcements. We are already having a tiger and leopard safaris in Sanjay Gandhi National Park (SGNP), Borivali. In Gorewada, we are planning tiger safari and leopard safari in Chandrapur. What has been opened in Raipur is a zoo."
However, after Mungantiwar's interest, things moved fast and at a hurriedly called meeting on Tuesday, the issue was discussed threadbare. It was also decided to visit Raipur to study the safari built there and discuss things with Chhattisgarh counterparts.
Modi had recetnly opened Chhattisgarh's largest man-made jungle safari at Naya Raipur. The area extends to over 200 hectares where wild animals will be seen moving freely in their respective zones and visitors can watch them through solar powered vehicles. It has a herbivore safari, tiger safari, bear safari and lion safari along with zoo for other animals. Tiger zone has three tigers in an area of 20 hectares.
Estimated cost of the Raipur safari was Rs 226crore but actual expenditure is estimated to be more. Experts question wisdom of creating another tiger safari considering the costs involved especially when similar entertainments are already coming up at Gorewada. "When Gorewada zoo project, which was conceptualized in 2005, has failed to see light of the day, will another tiger safari happen? It will have to be okayed under Forest Conservation Act (FCA) 1980," said one.