According to an affidavit submitted by the State Government in the Jharkhand High Court, tigers being peace loving animals, are migrating from the Naxal affected areas towards safer places due to regular interference of security forces as well as the increasing noise pollution of heavy vehicles and bullets inside the jungles. The court was hearing a PIl filed by one Vikas Mahto related to the decreasing number of tigers in Jharkhand.
“As per the affidavit filed by the State Government, forest cover in the state has actually increased while the number of tigers has definitely gone down from 10-12 in the year 2005-06 to 3-4 in the year 2012-13 as they have migrated towards Chhattisgarh due to disturbances created by the Naxal operations and movement of para-military troops in Betla forest,” said petitioner’s advocate Rajesh Kumar.
It has also been stated in the affidavit that 30 per cent of increase in Tiger count has been registered in Chhattisgarh which is possibly due to the movement of tigers from this side, added the advocate.
The Court has also asked the centre to file an affidavit in this regard. The matter will be taken up next after four weeks.