Palamu Tiger Reserve to shift road to curb man-animal conflict (State of Jharkhand, India)
Palamu Tiger Reserve to shift road to curb man-animal conflict (State of
Jharkhand, India)
Mukesh Ranjan, The New Indian Express
December 2, 2022
See link
https://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/2022/dec/02/palamu-tiger-reserve-to-shift-road-to-curb-man-animal-conflict-2524288.html
for photo.
RANCHI: In order to avoid man-animal conflict, officials at Palamu Tiger
Reserve (PTR) have decided to shift Kaer-Labhar road passing through its
core area to another location. Officials informed that these roads are used
by both men and wild animals leading to the regular killing of the animals
after they come under motor vehicles and bikes.
According to PTR officials, as many as 15-20 wild animals are killed every
year in road accidents on this route, three people were closely saved after
wild tuskers attacked them in separate incidents last year leaving their
vehicles badly damaged. Efforts are also being made to shift the railway
line from Chhipaodohar to Hehegarha to make PTR disturbance free for the
wild animals, they said.
“A part of state highway 9 from Kaer to Labhhar, which crosses through the
core area of PTR, will be relocated connecting the 4 villages -- Matnag,
Chhipadohar, Jurugar, Harinamar, which still remains un-connected through
pucca roads. It will also help in minimizing the man-animal conflict on the
road, which witnesses at least 15-20 incidents in which animals are killed
in road accidents,” said DFO (North), PTR, Kumar Ashish. Survey work has
already been conducted by the road construction department, which is
looking at every aspect of it like procedural shifting and feasibility, he
added
The DFO further said that the approval was given by the state government a
year back, but due to some unknown reasons, it could not be done.
“Being natural habitat of wild tuskers, at least three persons had a close
shave as they came across a herd of elephants on Kaer - Labhhar Road, in
which their two wheelers got badly damaged,” said Ashutosh.
Moreover, it will help make wild tuskers confined in their natural habitat
as they move towards villages, if they feel any disturbance due to noise
pollution created by moving vehicles, he added. The move is also considered
in accordance with the guidelines issued by National Tiger Conservation
Authority (NTCA), which recommends making tiger reserves free from any
human interference.