Amidst alarming reports about the disappearance of tigers from Sariska and Ranthambore National Parks in Rajasthan, there are some encouraging results from Uttaranchal. Wildlife officials claim that tiger sightings at the Corbett National Park and the proposed Rajaji National Park are up in the last few months. ‘‘More and more tourists are reporting tiger sightings at Corbett,’’ says Park Director Digvijay Singh Khati. The last census, done in 2003, put the number of tigers in the Park at 143, and Khati expects that number to be up in the next census to be done in May-June this year. One heartwarming sighting in the past two months has been that of a tigress with four cubs.News from the proposed Rajaji National Park is also encouraging. Hidden cameras installed by the Wildlife Institute of India in the Chilla range have photographed a lactating mother tigress, which former director Sameer Sinha says is an encouraging sign as it shows that ‘‘the tiger population which was shy of breeding due to human disturbance has again started it’’. At last count, there were 30 tigers in the Park.Wildlife officials claim that Corbett National Park is a success story in tiger conservation. Better management techniques and intensive patrolling following the killing of tuskers by poachers in 2001 in the Park have helped the tigers too. With six national parks and six wildlife sanctuaries, and with more than 60 per cent of its land mass under forest cover, Uttaranchal has a population of 245 tigers.Clearing the return roadWith the recent assembly elections proving more or less an embarrassment for the party, the Congress is already putting its house in order in Uttaranchal, where polls are still two years away. The party’s government has suddenly remembered the common man, and under Uttaranchal PWD and Information Minister Indira Hariydesh, a large number of roads, particularly in capital Dehra Dun, are either being dug up or widened overnight. The minister has ordered that more than 50 roads be repaired immediately. Even veteran Chief Minister N D Tiwari, considered a ‘Bureaucrats’ Chief Minister’ has started pushing his babus to come up with developmental schemes for the poor and downtrodden.Go Goa GoIn a bid to attract tourists, Uttaranchal Tourism has come up with the slogan ‘We have everything except the sea’. But now Goa Tourism has initiated a drive in the state to sell its world-known beaches. Last week it held meetings with potential travel agents, hoteliers, school managements and media to attract tourists to Goa. Pramod K Shetye, Managing Director of Goa Tourism Development Corporation, said the main aim of the interaction was to target group tours, particularly educational tours from Uttaranchal. Goa Tourism team wanted to encourage the renowned schools and educational institutes of Dehra Dun and Mussoorie to send students to Goa.Producing winnersFebruary 28 was a special day for the Golden Key ASHA school for disabled children run by the Army and Army Wives’ Welfare Association (AWWA). Uttaranchal Governor Sudarshan Aggarwal, who was the chief guest at the 11th Annual Day function, complimented the organisers for providing a ray of hope to many special children and their parents. The school, which was set up in 1994, has been performing consistently well at the national-level games held for the disabled children, winning nine first positions, six second and four third since 1998.Compiled by S M A Kazmi
