M F AHMAD
Daltonganj, May 23: Burha Pahar, once the all-weather capital of Maoists, is getting readied to have a shelter cum breeding centre for the Cheetals!
The security forces recently freed the hills, situated on the Jharkhand-Chhatisgarh border, from the clutches of the Maoists.
Chief conservator of forest and field director of the Palamu Tiger Reserve (PTR) Kumar Ashutosh said that a proposal for a soft release centre of the Cheetals has been sent to the principal chief conservator of forest (PCCF) wildlife Shashikar Samanta.
Sources said the PCCF Wildlife on finding it proper and adequate will forward it with a recommendation for funds to be released for it to the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) Delhi.
The soft release centre of the Cheetals is proposed between Chapiya and Kulhi of the Burha Pahar.
The proposed soft release centre is to be built on 15 hectares of grassland at an estimated cost of Rs 60 lakhs or so.
Kumar Ashutosh said, “This proposed soft release centre falls under the Kutku range. This range has fewer prey bases. This soft release centre of the Cheetals will augment the prey base for the carnivores.”
Carnivores stay where there is prey otherwise, they change their address, said Ashutosh.
The National Tiger Conservation Authority always lays stress on the proliferation of the prey base in the tiger reserve as it is the first requisite for the presence of the carnivores there.
Unfortunately, PTR is lopsided since its prey base is mostly limited to its North division only.
On being asked as to from where Cheetals will be put up here, deputy director, the South division of the PTR, Kumar Ashish said, “It’s the North division and to be more precise Betla range is the one and big house of the Cheetals from where it has to be lifted here in the Burha Pahar soft release centre in the ratio of 1 male Cheetal to 3 female Cheetals.
