UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 1st June 2025
Jharkhand to Set Up Its First Tiger Safari: Opportunities and Concerns
Why in News?
The Jharkhand government has announced plans to establish the state’s first tiger safari in the fringe area of the Barwadih Western Forest Range, under Palamau Tiger Reserve (PTR) in Latehar district. The project is part of a broader strategy to boost eco-tourism, create local employment, and rehabilitate rescued or orphaned tigers. However, the plan has raised legal, ecological, and tribal rights concerns.
What is a Tiger Safari?
- Not defined in the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, though its construction requires approval from the National Board for Wildlife.
- Envisioned in NTCA’s 2012 tourism guidelines as naturalistic enclosures in buffer zones to ease tourist pressure on core tiger habitats.
- 2016 NTCA guidelines allowed safaris for rescued, orphaned, or conflict tigers only.
- The 2019 amendment allowed inclusion of zoo-bred tigers, with oversight transferred to the Central Zoo Authority (CZA).
- The Supreme Court (March 2024) ruled that tiger safaris should be located outside core and buffer zones, prioritizing habitat integrity.
Jharkhand’s Proposal:
- Location: Fringe area of PTR, outside core and buffer zones.
- Size: Around 150 hectares of forest land.
- Animals: Only rescued/conflict/orphaned tigers from across India.
- Purpose: Eco-tourism, conservation education, livelihood generation.
- Projected employment: At least 200 local jobs (guides, staff, etc.).
- Status: Awaiting forest department clearance; DPR to be sent to NTCA and CZA for evaluation.
Legal and Policy Framework:
- Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972: Construction of tourism infrastructure inside protected areas needs NBWL clearance.
- Forest Rights Act, 2006:
- Section 3(1)(i): Rights to protect, conserve, and manage forest resources.
- Section 5: Gram Sabha consent mandatory for any project on forest land.
- Supreme Court 2024 ruling: Safaris must not compromise conservation goals or disturb wildlife habitats.
Concerns Raised:
1. Tribal Displacement and Consent:
- Local tribal leaders and activists fear displacement and loss of livelihood due to restricted access to forest produce and grazing.
- Van Adhikar Manch (VAM) demands Gram Sabha consultation to ensure compliance with FRA 2006.
2. Erosion of Indigenous Stewardship:
- Safaris may portray forest communities as threats, overlooking their traditional role as biodiversity custodians.
- Risk of cultural alienation and weakening of community-led conservation models.
3. Ecological Integrity:
- While safaris reduce pressure on core zones, enclosures can alter animal behavior and divert conservation funds from habitat protection.
- Potential infrastructure-induced fragmentation of forest corridors.
Government Clarification:
- State officials maintain the site falls under forest administration, and no displacement is planned.
- Emphasis is on using rescued animals only, in line with NTCA-CZA norms.
Benefits Projected:
- Boost eco-tourism in a low-tourist-density state like Jharkhand.
- Create local employment and auxiliary service industries.
- Promote conservation literacy and wildlife education.
Way Forward:
- Ensure Gram Sabha consultation in line with FRA 2006 and SC directives.
- Adopt a community-based eco-tourism model ensuring benefit-sharing.
- Implement robust wildlife welfare standards with CZA oversight.
- Prioritise environmental impact assessment and tribal impact studies before project clearance.
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For Indian Exporters
- These reforms reduce transaction costs and compliance hurdles
- Encourage a more competitive and efficient export environment
- Promote value addition in key sectors like leather
For Tamil Nadu
- The reforms particularly benefit the state’s leather industry, a major contributor to employment and exports
- Boost the marketability of GI-tagged E.I. leather, enhancing rural and traditional industries
For Trade Policy
- These decisions indicate a shift from regulatory controls to policy facilitation
Reinforce the goals of Make in India, Atmanirbhar Bharat, and India’s ambition to become a leading export power
Recently, BVR Subrahmanyam, CEO of NITI Aayog, claimed that India has overtaken Japan to become the fourth-largest economy in the world, citing data from the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
India’s rank as the world’s largest economy varies by measure—nominal GDP or purchasing power parity (PPP)—each with key implications for economic analysis.
