Context:

Chhattisgarh establishes the Guru Ghasidas-Tamor Pingla Tiger Reserve, the third-largest tiger reserve in India.

More on the news

• The Chhattisgarh government has cleared the pending project of creating a new dedicated Tiger Reserve.
• The decision comes after the Chattisgarh High Court, while hearing a PIL on July 15, granted four weeks to the state government to clear its stand on declaring that area a tiger reserve.
• National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA), has already approved the plan.
• The new Tiger Reserve will come into existence by integrating the regions of Guru Ghasidas National Park and Tamor Pingla Sanctuary covering the districts of Manendragarh-Chirmiri-Bharatpur, Koriya, Surajpur and Balrampur.
• The state government has notified the Guru Ghasidas-Tamor Pingla Tiger Reserve spanning over an area of 2829.38 sq km.
• According to the latest tiger census report, Chhattisgarh has only 17 tigers left, a steep decline from 46 in 2014.

Significance 

• The formation of the new Tiger Reserve is expected to increase the number of tigers owing to the given region remaining more protected and shielded, ideally suited as a natural habitat for tigers.
• The creation of the Tiger Reserve will further promote eco-tourism, generate new employment opportunities and augment economic benefits for local communities.

Largest Tiger Reserves of India

• Nagarjunasagar Srisailam Tiger Reserve (Andhra Pradesh): area of 3296.31 sq km.  
• Assam's Manas Tiger Reserve (Assam): area of 2837.15 sq km.

Tiger Reserve

• It is the protected area that is notified as such under section 38 V of the Wildlife (Protection) Act 1972 (vide Amendment of 2006). 
• The State Govt shall, on the recommendation of the Tiger Conservation Authority notify an area under Tiger Reserve
• The following steps are involved in the notification:

Proposal is obtained from the State.

• In-principle approval is communicated from the National Tiger Conservation Authority, soliciting detailed proposals under section 38V of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.
• The National Tiger Conservation Authority recommends the proposal to the State after due diligence.
• The State Government notifies the area as a Tiger Reserve.