Bor, Karhandla, Nagzira cancel machan census

Nagpur: With the weatherman forecasting thunderstorms accompanied by lightning and rains in Vidarbha region, Bor and Navegaon-Nagzira tiger reserves have cancelled the ‘nisarga subhuman’ exercise (Machan census) to be held on May 5-6 (Buddha Purnima). However, Melghat and Pench tiger reserves have decided to go ahead with it.
Bor and Umred-Karhandla-Paoni wildlife sanctuary have also stopped accepting bookings from May 4 for wildlife safari as tourism roads have been badly damaged.
NNTR field director Jayaramegowda said, “We will conduct it during next month’s ‘purnima’. Those who are not willing to come will be refunded the booking amount.”
Pramod Panchbhai, the deputy conservator of forests of Bor and Umred-Karhandla-Paoni wildlife sanctuary, said the wooden machans are not safe to sit on now. “Due to rains and thunderstorm warnings, we cannot take any risks. Heavy rains in the last few days have damaged tourism roads. In Kuhi range, forest roads are under water,” he said.
With participants coming from Pune and Mumbai, Panchbhai added that they will be allowed to go on a safari on motorable routes.
Melghat Tiger Reserve (MTR), which has jurisdiction across Amravati, Akola, Buldhana, Washim and Yavatmal, is going ahead with the exercise, albeit with some caution. They have a back up plan in place.
“We will shift participants to our forest rest houses and protection camps if it rains,” said chief conservator and field director Jayoti Banerjee.
MTR had only 140 machans on offer to participants. “We reduced the number in view of heat wave warnings and probable incidents of forest fires. Our staff would have then be required to tackle emergencies. Fortunately, it is raining now,” added Banerjee.
Maharashtra Pench deputy director Prabhu Nath Shukla said, “We will go ahead with the event. If it rains, the participants will be shifted to the nearest protection hurt.”