High-powered committee to strengthen NSTR

Metro India News | AMARAVATI

The Andhra Pradesh government has constituted a five-member high-powered committee to conduct a comprehensive review of tiger conservation and management practices in the Nagarjunasagar–Srisailam Tiger Reserve (NSTR), following the directions of Deputy Chief Minister and Minister for Forests and Environment Pawan Kalyan.

The decision comes in the wake of the recent suspicious death of a tigress in the Nallamala forest, an incident that the Deputy Chief Minister has taken seriously. Stressing that tiger conservation is non-negotiable, Pawan Kalyan directed the committee to undertake an in-depth field study and recommend measures to strengthen the protection of tigers, wildlife, and their habitats in one of the country’s largest tiger reserves.

The committee comprises Forest Department Advisor P. Mallikarjuna Rao and Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forests Rahul Pandey as departmental members. The other members include B. Rajashekar of the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), Imran Siddiqui representing the Hyderabad Tiger Conservation Society, and noted wildlife scientist Dr. M. Naveen Kumar. A serving Chief Conservator of Forests (CCF) will coordinate the committee’s field activities and ensure inter-departmental cooperation.

The panel has been tasked with assessing the current tiger population, identifying threats to their habitat, and preparing a comprehensive report outlining scientific and practical strategies for long-term conservation. It will also examine wildlife protection measures, anti-poaching and forest protection activities, institutional reforms, staff capacity building, infrastructure enhancement, and the use of modern technologies in wildlife monitoring.