Question

In which Tiger Reserve, villagers have fought against mining by citing the Wildlife Protection Act?
A. Ranthambore
B. Manas
C. Sariska
D. Corbett

Answer 1

Hint: In order to ensure environmental and ecological conservation, the Wildlife Protection Act 1972 provides for the protection of the country's wild animals, birds and plant species. Tiger Reserve consists of a 'Heart' or 'Important Tiger Habitat' to be maintained as an inviolate area for the protection and conservation of tigers in India. On the advice of the National Tiger Conservation Authority an area is declared as tiger reserve.

Complete Answer:
Mining activities pollute water due to which villagers have fought against mining by citing the Wildlife Protection Act. Soil and air; damage biodiversity, habitat, and natural ecosystems permanently. Release of toxic metals or elements tender the land barren and inhabitable. Thus, conservation is important.
Conventionally, state and environmentalists were responsible for the conservation but now there is focus on community participation as well. The local (traditional) communities of forest areas such as forest dwellers or tribals who understand the ecology of their residential area are now co-protecting and coordinating with government, NGOs etc.

Let us find the correct answer,
- For option A: Ranthambore: Ranthambore tiger reserve is located in Sawai Madhopur district of Rajasthan between the Aravali and Vindhyachal hill ranges. There is an issue of illegal mining. Administration and social activists are working to counter it.
- For option B: Manas: Manas tiger reserve is located in Assam at foothills of Bhutan hills. There is no agitation against mining in this reserve.

For option C: Sariska: In ‘Sariska Tiger Reserve’, Rajasthan, villagers have fought against mining by citing the Wildlife Protection Act. In many areas, villagers themselves are protecting habitats and explicitly rejecting Government involvement.

For option D: Corbett: The Corbett Tiger Reserve is situated in the district of Nainital in Ramnagar. The park has a long history of exploitation and even currently tension with local communities dependent on its natural resources. However, Uttarakhand High Court has ordered for no mining activity within 10 Km of the reserve.

Hence, option C: Sariska Tiger Reserve is the correct option.

Note: All India Tiger Estimation – 2018 report: The total number of tigers rose to 2,967 from 2,226 in2014, a rise of 741 individuals aged more than one year or 33 percent, in four years, according to the results of the Tiger census.
As per the report more than 80% of the world’s wild tigers are in India.