It’s good news for wildlife enthusiasts as the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) has granted the nod to declare Kumbhalgarh as a tiger reserve. NTCA approved this on 4 August, and today, the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change also approved the project. Union Minister Bhupender Yadav tweeted today, saying, “This is an important step in the direction of wildlife conservation in Rajasthan and promises a bright future for tigers and biodiversity. This move will enhance employment opportunities for the people of the region through eco-tourism.”
Rajsamand Member of Parliament and NTCA member Diya Kumari said, “Today is a historic day for Mewar, and I express my heartfelt gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Minister Bhupender Yadav for hoisting the green flag on this project.” She added, “Despite numerous obstacles, I made every effort to bring this project to the ground level. I am pleased that the Central Government has given the official approval today, and now we can hope that Kumbhalgarh will soon become a tiger reserve. Once again, tigers will roam in Mewar, a dream for many, and now we are just one step away from making that dream come true.” The proposed Kumbhalgarh Reserve will cover approximately 2,800 square kilometres. The technical committee has recommended approval while suggesting that the state government needs to submit an updated proposal, taking into account land use, core buffer, and eco-sensitive zones.