Habitat in tiger reserve in Palamu is very good but what is worrisome is the lack of prey base here' commented the former director of Jim Corbett sanctuary and at present Addl PCCF CAMPA in Uttrakhand Samir Sinha.
Speaking to the Pioneer on Tuesday Sinha said ' I saw the PTR . I came here on the request of field director PTR M P Singh. The habitat here is very good but prey base is wanting'.
Sinha further said this tiger reserve is like a big and leafy jungle home but here is less number of occupants and inmates ( read prey base) and that is painful to our eye sight.
Field director PTR M P Singh said the visiting Uttrakhand Addl PCCF Sinha told him that this PTR can accommodate a large number of wild life especially the tigers as quoting Sinha M P Singh said the Jim Corbett sanctuary where Sinha was the Director is spread over in 1,300 square kilometer and houses 215 tigers where as the PTR's area is 1,290 square kilometer and here the number of tigers is always questioned and less answered.
Asked as to how to increase the prey base in PTR Sinha said ' Patrolling must be systematic and intense and be conducted with passion'. He reiterated that patrolling must be thorough and not any touch and go affair.
FD PTR M P Singh sharing the same sentiments told that ' I have been asking my people to be up and doing all the time'.
When reminded that more than 60 % of this tiger reserve are a 'forbidden territory' Singh said ' Situation now has eased fast and trackers are around the locations in this tiger reserve.
He agreed that some areas of PTR are more patrolled than others and this must be stopped. He added patrolling ought to be equal and not lop sided any more.
Asked as to how to keep a tab of those doing patrol in PTR he said ' GPS will be put in use'.
Singh favoured 'Community Patrolling' as he said the communities living in and around in this PTR know who the elements are poaching the wild life and the communities can tame,contain and curb them with little effort.
Sources said the PTR has about a dozen forward security posts where are stationed armed to the teeth security forces out to combat CPI Maoists.
From Jaigeer Pahar to Bareysarn to Herhunj the axis is ridden with extremism.
Sinha without taking any name or expression said ' It is equally true this PTR has numerous challenges and constraints but its 'Samadhaan " (solutions) will come from within.
Sinha refrained from making any comment on the menace of local poaching in this PTR it was FD PTR M P Singh who made a bold statement that locals here take pride in poaching as for these people it is a kind of sports and games and such people go into the poaching with family members as if it were a great adventure.
He said awareness has to be created among the primitive tribes telling them that they are killing those whose lives will help them to live long Sources said Singh is in touch with state MGNREGA director Siddharth to enroll eco development committee members as MGNREGA labourers to be entrusted with the task of patrolling the PTR 2 of wages prescribed under MGNREG Act.
Asked that wages in MGNREG is 'yield based' like cft for earth cutting, km for road making,diameter and depth for well digging etc Singh said with GPS monitoring a MGNREG wages based tracker can be over seen for his patrolling or no patrolling .