Environmentalists oppose construction of boundary wall in PTR

LATEHAR: The Palamu Tiger Reserve (PTR) authorities have halted construction work of brick fencing in the sanctuary area after environmentalists’ body opposed the move, claiming that it will lead to further fragmentation of the already fragmented tiger reserve.

“Construction of any wall is strictly prohibited in the sanctuary area. It is beyond our understanding as to why they want to restrict movement of wildlife from one compartment to another. The boundary will also trigger food and water scarcity with limited movement of wildlife in near future,” secretary of Nature Conservation Society (NCS) Dr DS Srivastava said on Monday.

The wall was being built along Betla-Chhipadohar state highway9, separating the two compartments of Betla National Park, tourist zone of the tiger reserve. However, PTR officials said the move was aimed at regulating biotic pressure on the reserve. “The construction work has been halted after the objections were raised. However, the move was aimed not at bifurcating the Betla National Park, but to control and manage biotic pressure on the reserve in a better way,” PTR field director YK Das said.

A busy railway track already crosses through the critical tiger habitat (core area) of Jharkhand’s only tiger reserve. A third line has been proposed to be added along the existing lines and is awaiting a clearance from the national wildlife board.

Defending the move, Das further said, “We have identified a certain stretch with the most reported infringements by women and poachers entering the jungles. So, we decided to restrict their movement for the betterment of wildlife.”

However, Dr Srivastava rejected the claim. “They should have gone for more wildlife friendly measures and enhanced vigil,” he said.Meanwhile, PTR deputy director of north division, Kumar Ashish, said, “We have erected a 600m-long fence along the road to prevent human-wildlife conflict, human disturbance, illegal felling and grazing inside PTR.”