Palamu Tiger Reserve stares at massive tree cutting, wildlife experts express concern 

Palamu: Wildlife experts have expressed concern over a plan to cut over 3.44 lakh trees in Palamau Tiger Reserve in Jharkhand. The experts said that the proposal to cut trees will have far reaching consequences in the tiger reserve which faces tiger 'extinction'. 

The concerns come after Jharkhand's water resource department plans to cut trees in the reserve for North Koel project, also known as Mandal dam.

According to a report, no tiger was recorded in Palamau Tiger Reserve in All India Tiger Estimation (AITE) report released on July 19. The report further suggests that the project threatens to submerge nearly 3.44 lakh trees in the reserve.   

The state's water resource department has already deposited Rs 461 cr to the forest department after it got permission to fell the trees. Since the land for the project falls in the ambit of forest department, the water resources department sought a No Objection Certificate (NOC). 

"We have sought a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the forest department to begin several works including on forest land. And if everything goes well, the work on the project could begin after the monsoon season. Centre’s agency WAPCOS Pvt limited will execute the tree felling work," the report quoted Mukesh Kumar, chief engineer of the Daltonganj Water Resource Department as saying. 

In 2017, the Union Environment Ministry had approved 1,000 acres of forest for the Mandal Dam project. The dam project entails the felling of trees in tiger reserve's buffer zone.

Meanwhile, former Jharkhand chief wildlife warden, Pradeep Kumar, has opposed the move. Kumar argued that cutting trees in such a big number will badly affect the ecosystem of the reserve. 

Kumar said that the expansion of road and railway network has already caused significant damage to the reserve and further cutting of trees will cause further damage.

Palamu Tiger Reserve is one of the oldest reserves in India. It was notified in 1984 after late Prime Minister Indra Gandhi announcec Project Tiger in 1973