Proposed Ratapani Tiger Reserve has major role of Obedullaganj wildlife divn

Continuing its extra efforts towards notification of Ratapani Tiger Reserve, Government has redrafted proposal of tiger reserve that has significant role of Obedullaganj wildlife division which was earlier drafted during year 2016. In the fresh proposal, area of Obedullaganj wildlife division will be extended after diminishing the areas of Raisen, Sehore and Bhopal forest circles.

However, there will be no relaxation like wildlife division after notifying the tiger reserve. Government has geared up to notify Ratapani as Tiger Reserve after gap of ten years. Forest officials have claimed that the tiger reserve will be notified after clearing all the hurdles. The proposal drafted during year 2008 will also be included as part of the fresh proposal. The proposal has been redrafted by officials. In the fresh proposal changes have been made for the 23 villages that were to be relocated. In previous proposal, nine villages that are in core area of the reserve were to be shifted. There was also proposal to allow temporary way to the nine villages until they get relocate.

According to forest officials there was proposal to add 40,000 square hectare of land of Raisen Forest Circle in Obedullaganj forest circle that is spread over 1.50 lakh square hectare of area. Remaining area was proposed to be added in Obedullaganj wildlife division. The proposal also included Budhni rang of Sehore forest circle that is spread over 25,000 square hectare of area in forest circle area. In the newly drafted plan, forest officials have decided to notify the core area in first phase. The proposed tiger reserve will be notified in two different phases. In second phase, a separate proposal will be made for notification of the buffer zone. The new proposal includes to add notifies area in the tiger reserve which would be 823 square kilo meter of region. Officials of forest department informed that Government is avoiding any kind of confrontation or issues regarding the tiger reserve as there are about 29 villages and several mine operating around the Sanctuary.

Talking to ‘The Hitavada’, Alok Kumar, Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forest (APCCF), said, “The proposal of notifying Ratapani as tiger reserve is being re-drafted. We have planned to notify the core area in first phase and then a separate proposal will be made for the buffer zone.” The current position of Ratapani includes 910 square kilometre of Sanctuary area, 4 ranges, 40 adult tigers, 29 villages, 15 villages are the boundary of Sanctuary, 8 villages inside the sanctuary, relocated village one (Datkhoh), village relocation in process are 3 and total beats are 70. Obedullaganj District Forest Officer (DFO) APS Sengar informed that total area of Ratapani Sanctuary is 910 square km. Out of this 87 square km of area that belongs to revenue forest has been excluded from the tiger reserve and this area would be included in the notification of buffer area. He said after notifying the core area, separate proposal will be prepared for the buffer zone.