Raipur: The Indravati Tiger Reserve (ITR) in Chhattisgarh’s Bastar region is set to reopen to tourists on November 1.
For decades, the reserve had remained out of bounds not only to tourists but also to the forest department due to the threat posed by left wing extremism (LWE).
Now that Maoist activity has significantly declined in Bastar following sustained security operations and development outreach, there has been a significant improvement in the situation, allowing officials to increase patrolling and field presence in areas that had remained beyond their regular reach for years.
Authorities in Chhattisgarh are now keen to make up on lost time, and explore the ecological and tourism potential of local tribal culture and forest landscape.
Chhattisgarh’s principal chief conservator of forests (PCCF) Arun Pandey said the department has targeted November 1 as the opening date, and preparations were underway.
“We are purchasing vehicles for safari. And we are preparing routes. Primarily it will be two-three destinations for tourists and all preparations for that is going on,” Pandey said.
“Left wing wxtremism was a major factor behind restricting access of forest department staff to around 70% of area of the ITR which severely affected field operations and protection activities,” said Sumedh Survade, deputy director of Indravati Tiger Reserve.
Established under Project Tiger in 1983 in Bijapur district and spread across 2,799.07 sq km, Indravati is one of the largest tiger reserves in central India. Its critical tiger habitat covers 1,258.37 sq km, while another 1,540.70 sq km forms the buffer area, according to the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA).
A presentation to the state Forest minister Kedar Kashyap showed figures on wildlife in Indravati. It recorded 14-17 wild buffaloes, reported HT. The number of tigers was put at six, compared to 18 in Achanakmar reserve forest, 7 in Guru Ghasidas-Tamor Pingla, 3 in Bhoramdev and 1 in Udanti-Sitanadi.