Biodiversity cess in AP tiger reserve

The next time you drive through the Nagarjunasagar Srisailam Tiger Reserve (NSTR), you will have to pay a small biodiversity cess.

Tourist vehicles that enter the tiger reserve will have pay ₹20 or ₹10, depending on the type of vehicle. Government vehicles are exempt from the fee.

The money will be used to provide help to the tribal Chenchus and conserve the majestic Indian tigers in the reserve.

From June 1, the chess will be collected at four check-posts – Munnanur and Domalapenta in Telangana and Dornala and Sikharam in Andhra Pradesh.

The proposal to levy this cess was made by NGO Tiger First and others and the government issued the orders recently. According to the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife), AV Joseph, the funds will be primarily utilised for improving the livelihood of the Chenchus tribe, who inhabit the forest areas.

There is lot of littering of plastic bottles, cigarette butts, eatables and other junk in the area, which is creating problems to the wildlife and sometimes resulting in small fires. During festivals, the problem becomes acute, as lakhs of people from even neighbouring Karnataka and Maharashtra visit the Srisailam temple. The funds can be used to clear that mess as well.

The collection of toll fee is common in several tiger reserves such as the Jim Corbett, Ranthambore, Periyar, Sariska etc.

The forest department will put in place appropriate manual and technology scanners to track vehicles. Several steps have already been initiated to conserve the tigers in the NSTR, Joseph said.

COMMENT NOW