WB help for DTR

Aizawl, Sep 8(UNI) The World Bank is expected to give Rs 1700 lakhs for maintenance of Mizoram's Dampa Tiger Reserve.

The Dampa Tiger Reserve, situated on the western part of Mizoram along the international border with Bangladesh, about 127 kms from Aizawl, is one of the approved six tiger reserves across India to received the WB's aid.

A special meeting of executive committee on tiger conservation society was held today at West Phaileng, the town adjacent to the tiger reserve.

Chaired by environment&forest minister Dr R Lalthangliana, the meeting deliberated upon implementation of the project that also includes bio-diversity conservation and rural livelihood improvement.

Speaking on the occasion, the minister, also the president of the Mizoram Tiger Conservation Foundation, stated that the programme also seeks to provide people of the surrounding areas with reasonable means of livelihood.

Set up on the basis of Wildlife Protection Act 2006, the Mizoram tiger conservation foundation is to look after Dampa Tiger Reserve with forest minister as its president besides members like Phuldungsei MLA, PCCF, DLAO (Mamit), field director (Dampa Tiger Reserve) while Mizoram chief wildlife warden is a member secretary.

The foundation is expected to provide information on protection measures including future conservation plan, estimation of population of tiger and its natural prey species, status of habitats, disease surveillance, mortality survey, patrolling, reports on untoward happenings and such other managements.

It is the largest sanctuary of the state notified during 1985 and was declared as Project Tiger in 1994 covering an area of 500 square kilometres.

The important animals found in the area are tiger, sloth bear, leopard, elephants and various species of monkey, sambhar, barking deer, hoolock, giant squirrel, flying squirrel, wild dog, wild boar, porcupine, slow lorris and some species of small cats.

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