Lemru Elephant Reserve announced by Chhattisgarh cabinet,Natural habitat of wildlife for protection and promotion of elephants/// CM Baghel

        हाथियों की सुरक्षा और संवर्धन हेतु वन्यजीवों का प्राकृतिक निवास लेमरु हाथी रिजर्व

          Raipur,////A cabinet meeting has been held under the chair of Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel in Mantralay, Raipur on August 27 has unanimously approved the long-awaited demand of creation of Lemru Elephant Reserve and paved the way for the protection of elephant in Chhattisgarh. It must be noted that Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel, while addressing 73rd Independence Day celebration in Raipur, announced formation of ‘Lemru Elephant Reserve’ in the state. The promise made by the CM has finally got final nod from his cabinet.

 LER will be one-of-its-kind of elephant reserve in the nation, which will not only serve as protected area and permanent habitat for the wild tuskers but also to minimize the number of human-elephant conflicts, destruction of properties, loss of human lives caused due to wild elephants. Moreover, it will contribute in conserving bio-diversity and wildlife. It should be noted that with the announcement of establishment of LER, State government has finally fulfilled long awaited demand and provided respite to the sufferings of people the elephant affected areas.

            LER will be set-up as per the report and recommendations of centrally constituted Special High-Power Technical Committee (SHPTC). On the report of SHPTC, Government of India gave its consent for the formation of LER on 1995.48 sq. kms of forest areas on October 5, 2007. It includes forest lands of Korba, Kathghora and Dharamjaigarh Forest Divisions. The technical committee recommendations states that LER will provide huge protected area for the conservation of wild elephants where they get abundant amount of water, food and other facilities. These wild elephants will survive in better way when the facilities will be available in the habitat. They will venture lesses  into populated areas, reducing  the number of man-elephant conflicts, also lesser damage of crops, property and human lives as well. The money spent on compensation will be diverted to avail good quality of fodder and other resources in the reserve. Peaceful co-existence of human and elephant will create and boost the possibilities of tourism in the area. It will generate direct and indirect jobs for the tribal folks and other locals residing in the area. As the man sitting on the last leg of society will be benefitted, living standard of common people of area will be improved. It should be noted that on an average in last five years, man-elephant conflict claimed 65 human lives and resulted into death of 14 elephants. In last five years, the state government has distributed Rs 75 crores as compensation to victim families for human lives loss, crop damage, loss of property etc.  

                     The revolutionary step initiated by Chhattisgarh Government will set an example for other states. It will encourage them to set-up similar elephant reserves so that wild tuskers will be saved and their number will increase.   In 2005 Chhattisgarh Assembly has passed a private resolution and requested the Central Government to financially assist in formation of Elephant Sanctuary in Raigarh, Jashpur and Korba district of Chhattisgarh under Project Elephant. 

             On the request of Chhattisgarh government, a SHPTC had been constituted by Government India and which toured the proposed area and present its report on June 20, 2007 making recommendations that to develop that area as LER, forest areas of Tamor Pingla, Badalkhol and Manora should be included.  On the request of state government, Government of India issued a letter on October 5, 2007 giving its consent for the formation of two elephant reserves i.e. First elephant reserve includes areas of Badalkhol Manora (176 sq. kms) & Tamor Pingla (872.16 sq. kms) and second is Lemru elephant reserve (450 sq.kms).

                      At present there are two National Parks, three tiger reserves, eight sanctuaries, one biosphere reserve under wild life protected areas in the state. Total area earmarked as protected area is 11310.977 sq. kms. This is 8.36 percent of total geographical area of Chhattisgarh State. It also accounts 18.92 percent of total available forest area 59,772 sq. kms.

हाथियों की सुरक्षा और संवर्धन हेतु वन्यजीवों का प्राकृतिक निवास लेमरु हाथी रिजर्व

छत्तीसगढ़ सरकार ने लंबे समय से प्रतीक्षित मांग को पूरा करते हुए हाथियों के आतंक से ग्रसित क्षेत्रों की आबादी को बड़ी राहत मिली73वें स्वतंत्रता दिवस के अवसर पर छत्तीसगढ़ राज्य के मुख्यमंत्री ने की घोषणा की थी, जिसे आज कैबिनेट ने पास कर दिया, अब राज्य में लेमरु हाथी रिजर्व का होगा गठन, देश में अपने तरह  प्रोजेक्टहै।लेमरु हाथी रिजर्व के निर्माण से जंगली हाथियों द्वारा होने वाली जान-माल की हानि में कमी आएगी।वन्यजीवों के संरक्षण और जैव विविधता के संवर्धन का दायरा बढ़ेगा।लेमरु हाथी रिजर्व का निर्माण स्पेशल हाई पावर टेक्निकल कमेटी (SHPTC) द्वारा प्रदत्त सूचनाओं और सुझावों के आधार पर किया जाएगा।कमेटी की रिपोर्ट के आधार पर, 5 अक्टूबर, 2007 को भारत सरकार ने 1995.48 वर्ग कि.मी. वन्य क्षेत्र में लेमरु हाथी रिजर्व निर्माण की अनुमति दी थी।छत्तीसगढ़ राज्य के कोरबा, कठघोरा और धरमजयगढ़ का वन मण्डल लेमरु हाथी रिजर्व के अंतर्गत शामिल होगा।मानव और हाथियों के बीच का सौहाद्रपूर्ण सहनिवास इस क्षेत्र में पर्यटन की संभावनाओं को बढ़ावा देगा।पिछले 5 वर्षों में हाथियों और मानवों के संघर्ष में 65 व्यक्तियों और 14 हाथियों की मृत्यु हो गयी थी।पिछले 5 वर्षों में, मानव मृत्यु, खेती-बाड़ी में नुकसान, क्षतिग्रस्त मकानों आदि की क्षतिपूर्ति के रूप में राज्य सरकार ने 75 करोड़ रुपयों का अनुदान दिया।राज्य में वन्यजीवों हेतु 11310.977 वर्ग कि.मी. क्षेत्र संरक्षित है जो छत्तीसगढ़ राज्य के भौगोलिक परिक्षेत्र का 8.36 प्रतिशत है।