NEW DELHI: The wildlife panel of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has approved the Madhya Pradesh government proposal to set up a temporary police camp in the Kanha Tiger Reserve to combat Naxalites.
The development comes months after the environment ministry allowed the Madhya Pradesh police to install 4G mobile towers in the core zone of the Kanha Tiger Reserve to boost the communication services of security personnel involved in anti-naxal operations.
In 2022, Madhya Pradesh’s Mandla district was declared Maoist-affected. The police will set up its camp inside the tiger reserve to patrol the district.
The Centre has set a deadline to eliminate Naxalism by March 31, 2026.
The state police will use 0.95 hectares of the forest land of the tiger reserve. Once the operation objectives are achieved the towers and the camp will be dismantled.
According to the minutes of the meeting of the Standing Committee of National Board for Wildlife (NBWL), the clearance was given on the condition that wildlife and trees the reserve would not be removed for the set-up of the camp.
In its report, the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA), an apex body for tiger protection, said no concrete or permanent construction will be permitted in the tiger reserve and the use of loudspeakers is strictly prohibited to avoid disturbing nocturnal wildlife.
“The clearance was given based on conditions. Fuel and inflammable materials should be stored in sealed containers under supervision and away from vegetation. Speed limits of vehicles will be enforced and all the camp staff and security personnel must undergo a short wildlife sensitization program conducted by the Tiger Reserve management before deployment. The chief wildlife warden of Madhya Pradesh will ensure that all these conditions are complied with by the police,” a member of the NBWL said.
In 2022, Union Environment Minister Bhupendra Yadav wrote to the state government seeking an action plan to deal with the Maoists in Kanha Tiger Reserve.
Requesting anonymity, a senior forest official in the state forest department told The Tribune that the patrolling staff of the forest department cannot fight Maoists.
“The forest department is equipped with mobile phones and wireless only. If Maoists come to their camps to collect rations they have to give them. Moreover, Maoists impede conservation as well. Patrolling cannot be done regularly. They take away wireless phones from our men,” the official said.
In a detailed form submitted to the environment ministry, a copy of which is with The Tribune, Chief Wildlife Warden of Madhya Pradesh Subharanjan Sen said that the camp is necessary for anti-naxal operation. “It will have no adverse effect on wildlife and its habitat,” he said.