Thaindian News

Jaipur, March 5 (IANS) Rajasthan’s forest department plans to develop a national park in Kumbhalgarh, Raoli and Tatgarh areas of the state, an official said Saturday.

The park, covering an area of 525 sq km, will be Rajasthan’s third one after Ranthambore and Keoladeo national parks in Sawai Madhopur and Bharatpur districts, respectively.

It is being planned to accommodate the growing population of tigers in Ranthambore National Park and prevent territorial fights among them.

The park will be developed after clubbing together sanctuary areas of Kumbhalgarh, Raoli and Tatgarh falling in Pali, Rajsamand, Udaipur and Ajmer districts, a senior forest department official told IANS.

“We have prepared the proposal on the basis of our vast research of the area. We found that it has all the potential to be developed as a national park,” said the official.

He added that combination of rocky terrains and dense forests was suitable for a variety of animals, including panthers, leopards, bears, deer and rabbits.

“There is no dearth of prey if the tigers are shifted here,” he said.

If implemented, the project is likely to give a major boost to the tourism industry in the state.

“The state government, after giving its nod, will issue a notification announcing the area as national park. After that, work to shift some of the villages will begin,” he said.

The desert state is one of the few states that can boast of two tiger projects, a bird sanctuary and 25 wildlife sanctuaries.