Backgrounder

            Project Tiger Scheme has been under implementation since 1973 as a Centrally Sponsored Scheme of Government of India. The main objective of Project Tiger is to ensure a viable population of tiger in India for scientific, economic, aesthetic, cultural and ecological values and to preserve for all time, areas of biological importance as a natural heritage for the benefit, education and enjoyment of the people. Initially, the Project started with 9 tiger reserves, covering an area of 16,339 sq.km., with a population of 268 tigers. At present there are 27 tiger reserves covering an area of 37761 sq.km., with a population of 1498 tigers. This amounts to almost 1.14% of the total geographical area of the country.

            Tiger Reserves are constituted on a 'core-buffer' strategy. The core area is kept free of biotic disturbances and forestry operations, where collection of minor forest produce, grazing, human disturbances are not allowed within. However, the buffer zone is managed as a ‘multiple use area’ with twin objectives of providing habitat supplement to the spill over population of wild animals from the core conservation unit, and to provide site specific eco-developmental inputs to surrounding villages for relieving their impact on the core.
            Nagarjunasagar Tiger reserve spreads over five districts, Nalgonda, Mahaboobnagar, Kurnool, Prakasam and Guntur, in the state of Andhra Pradesh. The Krishna river flows through the Reserve over a distance of 130 km. The multipurpose reservoirs, Srisailam and Nagarjunasagar, which are important sources of irrigation and power in the State are located in the Reserve. The reservoirs and temples of Srisailam are major attraction for a number of tourists and pilgrims from all over the country and abroad.

            The Wildlife is generally confined to plateaues during monsoon and in valleys during summer. The perennial water sources are generally located in the valleys and the plateaus suffer from acute scarcity for water during summer. Nagarjunasagar receives rains from South-West monsoon as well as North-East monsoon. The South-West monsoon is active from second half of June to end September. After a dry spell of one month during October, North-East monsoon becomes active.
This area contains ruins of the ancient Nagarjuna Viswa Vidyalayam run by the great Buddhist scholar Nagarjunacharya (150 A.D.).

            The River Krishna is the oldest river in the country, which has cut its basin almost 200 m deep. Many water falls such as Ethipothala, Pedda Dukudu, Gundam and Chaleswaram are amazingly beautiful.

            The Nagarjunasagar-Srisailam Sanctuary was notified in 1978. It was declared a Tiger Reserve in 1983. The Reserve was renamed as Rajiv Gandhi Wildlife Sanctuary in 1992. Before independence, the southern half of the Reserve area was under the control of the British while the northern half was controlled by the rulers of princely State of Hyderabad, who maintained it as a reserve for royal hunting.

            Major flora of this area are Anogeissus latifolia, Cleisthanthus collinus, Terminalia spp., Pterocarpus marsupium, Hardwickia binata, Boswellia serrata, Tectona grandis, Mandelia suberora and Albizzia where as main animal species are  Tiger, Leopard, Sloth Bear, Wild Dog, Pangolin, Spotted Deer, Sambar, Mouse Deer, Black Buck, Chinkara, Chowsinga, Mugger, Python, Cobra and  Peafowl..

Census

            The area is hilly, considerably varying from plains to precipitous cliffs. High hills, deep valleys and gorges are characteristic features. More than 80 per cent of the area is gently rolling to hilly. The hill ranges contain number of plateau of which Amrabad, Srisailam, Peddacheruvu, Sivapuram, Nekkanti are note worthy.  This reserve has various types of forests  like Southern Tropical dry mixed deciduous forest, Hardwickia forest, Southern thorn forest and Southern Euphorbia scrub .

            The ruins of the fort of Ikshwaku Chandragupta a ruler of 3rd century B.C. are present in the area overlooking a valley called Nirjivapuram. The ancient fort of Pratap Rudra a king of Kakateeya dynasty and many other forts are seen on the banks of the "Krishna". An ancient wall over a length of 105 miles constructed by the Kakateeyas is an interesting feature.

            This area contains a number of geo-morphological features e.g. rock shelters and cave temples such as 1)  Akka Mahadevi Bhilam, 2)  Dattatreya Bhilam, 3)  Umaa Maheswaram, 4) Kadalivanam, 5) Palankasari. The ancient shrines of Lord Mallikharjuna and his consort goddess "Bhramaramba" respectively contain one of the 12 Jyothirlingas and one of the eighteen Maha Shakthi peethas of the country.
            New initiatives have been taken to  protect the reserve and also to make it flourish. Improvement of water resources, eco-development activities and involvement of villagers in conserving and preserving forests   help to provide excellent environment to tigers.

            In the field of  water management, existing small tanks were deepened to ensure more water storage. Forty check-dams were constructed to increase number of water points by arresting water in the streams which otherwise would have gone unutilized. Seventy artificial water troughs were constructed and water is supplied through tankers as frequently as necessary in high scarcity areas. Salt licks were also provided
            Eco-development activities in forest dependent villages have bridged the gap between management and the communities. The villagers have started realizing the need for   conservation of bio-diversity. More than 115 Eco-development committees (EDCs) have been constituted in and around the Reserve not only to reduce the dependency of the villagers but also to check and plug all the smuggling routes in the forest. Most of the committees have already taken the conservation of the habitat as a major concern. Apart from this 85 Vanasamrakshna Samithis are functioning outside the Reserve, which in conjunction with EDCs spare no efforts to destruction of forest. With the help of these committees, protection level has increased.

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KP