Heavy generator sets installed at 12 security camps in the Palamu Tiger Reserve are robbing the tigers, leopards, hyena, bison and other wildlife here of their peace and serenity. DFO Core of this tiger reserve Premjit Anand conceding this said, the sound of the heavy generator sets are causing a kind of irritation to wildlife and there are instances where the tigers have changed their route to avoid this noise. These camps have solar light for nights and the jungle in its contiguity looks like a dim lit city.
Tigers are choosing newer and undefined paths, he reiterated. Tigers are straying outside the PTR, he added further. In recent times, the movement of tigers has been reported in latehar division like Patki, Balumath, Saryu etc. These are the ones who have left their abode in the reserve. There are in all 12 security bases in the tiger reserve. These security camps are in both the zones core and the buffer, said Anand. These camps are manned by police and the central para military forces.
These camps are at Karamdeeh, Koomandi, Mandal, Morwai, Madgiri, Sangali, labhar, Ker, Betla Bareysarn, Maromar and Garu. Sources said these security camps are set up right inside the PTR to contain and combat the left wing extremism. The PTR has been a witness to many a clash between heavily armed Maoists and the security forces.
Anand is tongue in cheek to comment on these structures right inside the PTR but says the human activities in these camps keep the jungle awake 24x7 which is not congenial to wildlife. There is a security post at labher which is atop a hill 400 meters above the sea level. Here one can find empty bottles of water thrown carelessly in the jungle!
Sources said all these camps have a big field of fire and these field of fire further robs the jungle of its space and habitat of the wild life. The field of fire is given to fight out any gun shots coming from the extremists. The PTR is spread in 1,026 sq km. However in its 414 Sqr Km it is the critical habitat of the tiger. Sources said this critical habitat is infested with extremism. However, it is equally true that none of the extremists’ outfits have ever harmed any wild life here in this PTR.