Context:
The National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) has warned that the Morand-Ganjal Irrigation Project in Madhya Pradesh will submerge crucial tiger habitats in the Satpura Wildlife Sanctuary and Melghat Tiger Reserves.
Morand-Ganjal Irrigation Project
- Dam-based irrigation initiative aimed at enhancing agricultural productivity in Madhya Pradesh.
- Involves the Morand and Ganjal Rivers.
- Ganjal River: Left-bank tributary of the Narmada River.
- Morand River: Major tributary of the Ganjal River.
Satpura Wildlife Sanctuary
- Location: Madhya Pradesh (South of Narmada River)
- Satpura ranges: Part of Central Indian Landscape
- Satpura meaning: “Seven Folds,” a watershed between Narmada and Tapti Rivers
- Corridor connectivity: Linked with Pench National Park
- Flora and fauna: Bengal tigers, leopards, sloth bears, Indian bison, and diverse flora
Melghat Tiger Reserve
- Tiger Reserve declared: 1974 (1st tiger reserve in Maharashtra)
- Melghat meaning: “Confluence of various ghats or valleys”
- Location: Maharashtra [Southern offshoot of Satpura Hill Range (Gavilgarh Hill)]
- Vegetation: Tropical dry deciduous forests, predominantly teak
- Boundaries: Tapti River and Gawilgarh ridge of the Satpura Range
- Major tribes: Korkus (Largest tribal community in Melghat), Gawli community, Gond tribe
- Stronghold of critically endangered forest owlet
- 1st among nine tiger reserves notified in 1973-74 under Project Tiger
Source: New Indian Express
Previous Year Question
Consider the following pairs:
1. Dampa Tiger Reserve: Mizoram
2. Gumti Wildlife Sanctuary: Sikkim
3. Saramati Peak: Nagaland
Which of the above pairs is/are correctly matched?
[UPSC CSE – 2014 Prelims]
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
Answer: (c)
Explanation:
The Gumti Wildlife Sanctuary is located in Tripura.