Nagpur: The Nagpur Bench of Bombay High Court on Tuesday, added Compensatory Officer Fund Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA), as a respondent in the suo motu PILs challenging shooting order of problematic tigress in Tipeshwar Wildlife Sanctuary, Pandharkawda sub-division forest, Yavatmal.
A division bench comprising justices Bhushan Dharmadhikari and Zaka Haq while issuing notice, directed it to file a reply within two weeks.
Counsel Ravindra Khapre, appearing for petitioners — Ghanshyam Thakur and Mumbai-based dentist Dr Sarita Subramaniyam — informed that tiger numbers have jumped in last few years and resulted in them moving out of the forest. It subsequently led to man-animal conflict in the area. Domestic animals too were being attacked as the forest area was proving to be inadequate.
He informed that the forest department had failed to take any steps to expand the jungle area or prey base for the carnivorous animals, which resulted in tigers eyeing human settlements. He said in cases of shrinking of forests, funds are provided by CAMPA for afforestation, but there are no such plans for Pandharkawda.
Khapre pointed out that a big area adjacent to forests is available. But it lacked meadows that is needed for herbivores, which are the prey base of tigers. Lack of prey base is another reason for them to look out for the food in human settlements near the forests.
The state government had transferred a big area of 31,627.08 hectare to the FDCM for development, of which some area is adjacent to Pandharkawda sub-division. Khapre prayed for taking back this tract from the FDCM and its ecological development by the forest department with a view to attract herbivorous.
According to him, it would not only prevent the tigers from looking out for food in villages, but also prevent man-animal conflict and subsequent attacks on humans.
