Govt sanctions Rs 25 crore for shifting Gujjars from Corbett

NEW DELHI: With an aim to ending man- animal conflict, government said it has sanctioned Rs 25 crore for relocation of 181 Gujjar families from core areas of the Corbett National Park, a tiger reserve, in Uttarakhand.

Another 400 Gujjar families in the park are to be relocated over a period of time, according to an environment ministry release.

"I am extremely happy that the relocation work is being taken up as a priority and that such measures will strengthen tiger conservation efforts," said environment minister Jairam Ramesh, who had visited the park last week.

According to official figures, there are 1,411 tigers left in the 39 Project Tiger reserves and 663 protected areas in the country. Corbett has been in the news recently for killing of tigers allegedly by villagers who were attacked by the animals and by poachers.

About 80,000 families are to be relocated from tiger reserves and so far only 3,000 have been relocated. The remaining 77,000 families have to be relocated over the next seven years, for which a total financial package of Rs.8,000 crore would be required.

Ramesh also announced setting up of a world-class Indira Gandhi Interpretation and Learning Centre (IGILC) near the reserve. The Centre is likely to be completed by the end of next year at a cost of Rs. 5 crore.