MEE TR Web Portal

Introduction

Pench National Park came into being when the Government of Maharashtra declared its intention to constitute the protected area with an extent of 257.26 km 2 (vide gazette notification no. PGS 1375/121758-F I dated 22 November 1975). Later on Pench National Park was declared as the 25th tiger reserve of India (vide Government of India letter F No. 1-1/96-PT, dated 18 February 1999 and Government of Maharashtra resolution no. WLP-1095/CR-110/F-1 dated 23 February 1999). Pench Tiger Reserve comprises seven ranges which are separated by the Pench River. The forest is of the Southern Tropical Dry Deciduous type, in which teak is substantially present. Important carnivores in its faunal wealth are the tiger, leopard, wild dog, jackal, hyaena, jungle cat, etc. The herbivores include the sambar, nilgai, gaur, chital, barking deer, chausinga, wild boar and bear. Pench Tiger Reserve, along with the adjoining forests of Pench Tiger Reserve (MP), forms an important joint conservation unit. The forests of the park are major catchments for the Totladoh reservoir and play an important role in ensuring water availability in and around the TR as well as Nagpur city. Pench Tiger Reserve, Maharashtra was notified in 1999 with a total area of 741.41 km 2 , consisting of a 439.41 km 2 core and a 301 km 2 buffer, which was earlier notified as Pench National Park in 1975. Pench forms a crucial link with Pench (MP), Kanha, TATR, Bor, and NNTR, which makes it the pivot of the Central Indian Landscape. Only village Fulzari is left in the core. There are seven ranges. 1001 species of angiosperm, 71 species of mammal, 310 species of birds, 53 species of reptile, etc have been reported. The TR forms major catchments that ensure that water is available in Nagpur city. The TR has seven ranges. Paoni UC and Nagalwadi ranges are in the buffer, and East Pench, Devalapar, Chorbahuli, West Pench and Saleghat ranges are in the core area. Pench Tiger Reserve received the CA/TS accreditation in 2021. During the first scientific camera-trapping exercise of the area in 2008, a total of nine tiger individuals were captured, and according to the latest report of Wildlife 132 Institute of India (2020), the number of tigers is 44. Phase IV monitoring and monitoring of mitigation measures are undertaken every year with the help of WII. Camera traps are being deployed by the staff throughout the year. Information about individual tigers is being tracked and tiger movements being monitored through a tiger monitoring register and camera trap data analysis. Animal crossing points are being monitored through CCTV cameras. The TR is regularly sharing Phase IV data with MP and Territorial forest for knowing the movements of the tigers beyond the boundary. Habitat restoration work after removing all the buildings of irrigation department, Totladoh colony under NAFCC and developing meadow and high density plantation, MIYAWAKI is a highly appreciable model project. SMC works are being undertaken on the basis of the watershed approach. PTR is using M-STrIPES extensively. The TR has increased the number of protection huts from 57 to 63 (1 PH per 11.76 km 2 ) with basic facilities (water, toilet, solar power, separate kitchen, library, carom boards and other playing equipment) to ensure a healthy atmosphere. Camera traps are being placed at all possible entry points of the TR for monitoring trespassing. An effective intelligence network has been created. The secret fund is being used effectively. There are 81 STPF staff sanctioned for protection purpose. A Joint meeting and operations are being undertaken with territorial staff , Pench MP, police etc. Aerial Bunch cabelling is being installed to arrest electrocution. Anti-snare drives and anti-electrocution drives are being carried out throughout the boundary areas in coordination with the police and MSEB. Three tier system consisting of PRT (Primary Response team at village level), QRT (Quick Response team at range level) and RRT (rapid response team at division level) are in place. With 39 villages, there are 34 EDCs in PTR, and MoUs have been signed for preventing illegal grazing, illicit felling, etc. Community based agro-ecotourism such as Kolitmara project is in operation. Livelihood support under NAFCC, Foundation tribal plan, etc. have created huge people support. The considerable benefits provided by eco-tourism activities have ensured the consistent support of the people for conservation. The community-based fire-free Pench programme got success as 37 out of 39 villages voluntarily supported the initiative, resulting in a 67% reduction in the total number of fire cases. Engaging public representatives, wildlife wardens, NGOs and other stakeholders has secured the people’s confidence. Community support in voluntarily patrolling, shram dan activities, cleaning drives, plastic free Pench River is overwhelming. The plastic-free Pench programme is an effort aimed at responsible tourism. The entire TR is being made carbon-neutral by making the entire infrastructure solar based. PTR has applied project for carbon credit and ecosystem service of the core area has been assessed , rest is under process. 133 PTR has a strength of 108 FGs in place against the sanctioned number of 141 FGs to be deployed in 78 beats. The average age of the staff members is 28 years, and the average area allocated to them is approximately 9.5 km 2 . An MoU has been signed with HDFC to provide them insurance. Van Kalyan Nidhi is for emergencies. Emergency support for health conditions is provided from the foundation. There is an MoU with a Rotary club for regular health check-ups, and the health indicators of each staff member being preserved and monitored. There is a special email account for establishment-related grievances and follow-up. Regular staff meetings are held for staff-related issues. Shukanya Samruddhi Yojana, for supporting the girl child, is being carried out by the foundation. The MEE was conducted from 27 August to 30 August 2022 by the team comprising of Sh, Bishan Singh Bonal, IFS, Rtd. PCCF & HOFF Assam and former MS NTCA/ADG PT, Dr. Sandeep Tripathi, IFS, Rtd. PCCF & CWLW Odisha, Sh. Shailesh Prasad, IFS, Rtd. Dr. Gautam Talukdar, WII. Sh. Pawan Kumar, IFS, Rtd. could not join the team. The MEE team was accompanied by officers, namely Ms Sreelakshmi, IFS, CF & FD, Pench Tiger Reserve, Maharashtra, Dr. Prabhu Nath Shukla, Deputy Director, Pench Tiger Reserve, Nagpur, Sh. Atul Deokar, Assistant Conservator of Forest, Sh. Kiran Patil, Assistant Conservator of Forest and Forest Range Officers and staff members of PTR.

Management Strengths:

Pench Tiger Reserve is located in the central highlands of the southern slope of the Satpura Range, linking with Kanha Tiger Reserve through Seoni, Balaghat and Mandla districts. PTR is linked with Satpura Tiger Reserve through Chhindwara District and is contiguous with Pench TR of Maharashtra to the south. The PTR core (411 km²), buffer (768 km²), corridor (3145 km²) and ESZ (771 km²) area, forms a compact landscape for supporting a viable population of tigers.
PTR functions as a source of dispersing tigers, and the spillover population is a boon for neighbouring territorial divisions.
The dominant vegetation is teak, corresponding to the Southern Tropical Dry Deciduous Forest type. The endangered animals present are the tiger, leopard, grey wolf, wild dog, Bengal fox, sloth bear, smooth-coated otter, gaur, rock python, etc. The forests are extensive and dense. It gets its name from from the River Pench which flows through the TR.
PTR forms an important catchment for Bawanthadi and the Pench River, the lifeline of the park and the main source of drinking water for Nagpur and other towns of Maharashtra, apart from being a source of hydro-electric power for Maharashtra. The Totladoh reservoir, located within the park, is an Important Bird Area. This waterbody attracts numerous migratory birds.
PTR supports a good population of endangered vultures and helps the overall conservation of the vultures in the country. PTR has six species of vulture. Their healthy population is an indicator of a good ecosystem.
The critical core of the PTR is free from habitations and livestock, and thus the habitat is pristine.
The buffer has the an excellent habitat to support wild ungulates and carnivores and absorbs the spillover from the populations in the core. It helps in diffusing tourism from the core area and is efficiently administered by PTR.
PTR has taken up the onerous task of registration of firearms within a 5 km distance, thereby helping the management control and monitor the poaching.
PTR has a dispersed population of prey species in abundance in the core and buffer. Hihj cheetal population supports the tiger and its young ones and forms one of its major strengths.

Management Weaknesses:

Pench Tiger Reserve is dotted with 107 villages distributed in and around its buffer areaand may be potential threat on the habitat.
The illegal fishing activity indulged in by people from the nearby villages in Maharashtra and in MP are a thorn in flesh for the administration, and the weed growth in the submergence area of Totladoh reservoir poses serious ecological problems.
The 11 KV capacity power line passing through the buffer area of TR (over a length of 547.088 km), of which 150 km passes through the sensitive portion, poses a serious threat of electrocution to the wildlife.

Immediate Actionable Points:

The TCP for the period of 2009–10 to 2019–20 has expired. The new draft TCP for the period 2022–23 to 2031–32 has been submitted to the CWLW. It is therefore incumbent on the part of PTR/CWLW to appeal to NTCA to approve the prescriptions of the existing TCP till the final approval of the new TCP.
Fulzari village in the core area has been only partially relocated, with 61 families rehabilitated and 57 families still remaining in the core. The PTR management should initiate a dialogue and take immediate action to relocate the balance families at the earliest to make the core area inviolate.
The STPF has two vacancies of RFOs out of three sanctioned positions. For smooth and effective management of the STPF, the vacancies should be filled at the earliest.
The salaries and food allowances of the STPF have not been paid since January 2021 because of non-receipt of the CSS grant from NTCA. NTCA may release the required funds expeditiously.
It was observed that the area being diverted from FDCM in Chorbahuli, Hattigota and some areas of West Pench Range has substantial teak coppice growth from the thinned-out plantations. Such growth interrupts the understorey growth of palatable grasses for herbivores. It is suggested that a committee be formed by NTCA to examine this issue.
The patrolling registers of beats/ranges were examined, and it was observed that both daytime and night-time patrolling are carried out regularly. But the registers are maintained only for daytime patrolling. It is advised that the night-time patrolling also be reflected both in the registers and in M-STrIPES. In addition, the patrolling registers should also be routinely inspected by higher officials.
Recruitment of Forest Guards (27 vacancies) was put on hold due to COVID-19. PTR is advised to take steps to fill up these vacancies at the earliest.
The PTR management has taken the excellent initiative to have air bunch cabling to prevent electrocution incidences over about 5 km. This should be replicated by the electricity department/PTR in other electrocution hotspots.
The NH 44 underpass is being actively monitored through 13 CCTV cameras and about 53 camera traps on pillars. It is suggested that the tracks/corridors which were being used by tigers and other animals in the past also be monitored. Further, it is suggested that provisions be made for a light and sound barrier along NH 44.
The range office should have separate lock-up rooms for both males and females as per security audit guidelines of NTCA.
The provision for levying conservation cess from all the resorts and hotels should be implemented firmly. In this regard, Wild Woods Resorts (Ali Arcadia) also needs to be made accountable.
The issue of transfers of the STPF staff should be adhered to as per NTCA guidelines. The transfer policy for the other frontline staff members, needs to be revisited.
The intended proposal by PTR for rationalisation of Nagalwadi Range into two ranges, i.e., North Nagalwadi and South Nagalwadi ranges, should be considered by the state government to ease the accessibility and management constraints.
The constraints being faced by PTR in regard to the disbursement of the salaries of the STPF could be taken care of by the release of the funds against the CSS 136 on time by the state government. The funds are usually released at the fag end of the financial year
15. As the percentage of grassland in PTR is less than 6% thus all areas below High Tension lines should also be developed as grasslands, including some stretches below the transmission lines where the trees are left uncut/half cut and undergrowth is not fully removed by MSEB as carried out in certain places of the TR.
All innovative best practices should be systematically documented and put in the public domain/website/social media of PTR. For example, restoration of areas of irrigation projects under NAFCC and encroachment removal should be showcased.
The training facility of PTR should be further diversified to provide training to improve livelihoods in areas such as office management, computer training, automobile, electrical and plumbing maintenance and health care best practices.
Pench TR Maharashtra is often confused with Pench TR MP. Hence renaming them should be considered so as to create separate identities. It is suggested that PTR Maharashtra be renamed Mowgli TR after Rudyard Kipling’s Jungle Book.
The families of STPF staff members should be provided accommodation matching the paramilitary forces.
The recruitment of a permanent veterinary doctor should be carried out at the earliest to fill up the sanctioned post.
Since 2019, no meeting of the Steering Committee has been convened. The meeting should be convened as per the provisions of WPA, 1972.
A provision should be made for a mobile veterinary van and animal transport vehicle which would be useful to cater to the local demands for conflict management.

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Pench(MH) Tiger Reserve

Introduction

Management Strengths:

Management Weaknesses:

Immediate Actionable Points:

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