Update water atlas of tiger reserves, panel told

In light of soaring summer temperatures that make forests vulnerable to fires and cause water shortages for wildlife, members of the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) have urged the authority to update the water atlas of tiger reserves.

The NTCA, a statutory body under the Union Environment Ministry responsible for protecting tigers, has been asked to explore the feasibility of using underground gravity-fed water pipelines for fire control and water management in these reserves.

India currently has 58 tiger reserves, and an updated water atlas would be a crucial tool in planning tiger conservation, managing natural resources and safeguarding natural water sources. Several major rivers originate in these reserves. The water atlas, developed using remote sensing data and Geographic Information System (GIS) technology, maps all water bodies within tiger habitats, providing forest managers with baseline information for effective on-ground planning and conservation strategies.

Since the onset of summer in April, India’s forests have witnessed over a thousand fire incidents. Experts suggest that installing water pipelines could help contain and prevent the spread of such fires.

According to the minutes of the NTCA meeting, BJP MP and NTCA member Rajiv Pratap Rudy emphasised the need to document India’s rich heritage in and around tiger reserves. Many reserves house historical structures such as temples and forts — notable examples include the Gopalaswamy Betta Temple, Umamaheshwaram Temple, Ranthambore Fort and Kankwari Fort.

Rudy also recommended that the NTCA work with the Ministry of Human Resource Development to create a syllabus for naturalists, proposing the formation of a task force to finalise the initiative.