Maharashtra is planning to develop a wildlife sanctuary similar to Gujarat’s ‘Vantara’ and is considering names like ‘Surya Tara’ or ‘Chandra Tara’ for the project.
The government has reached out to Anant Ambani, son of industrialist Mukesh Ambani, for support in making the initiative a reality.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated Vantara, situated within the Reliance Jamnagar Refinery Complex, earlier this week. The 3,000-acre animal rescue and rehabilitation centre is owned and managed by Anant Ambani.
The government’s announcement came as Forest Minister Ganesh Naik addressed the assembly during a debate on rising man-animal conflict, particularly in Koka Wildlife Sanctuary, in Bhandara District. He revealed that two people had lost their lives in tiger attacks in the area this year.
Naik assured the assembly that he would advocate for fencing villages near forests that lie along tiger corridors. He also highlighted a significant rise in the state’s tiger population, which has surged from 101 in 2000 to 444 in 2024. To address safety concerns, the government has allocated Rs200 crore for solar fencing around villages close to tiger habitats.
“I have instructed my department to explore the possibility of creating a Vantara-like sanctuary in Maharashtra,” Naik said. “We have also initiated talks with the central government to involve private investors in this project. Additionally, I have written to Anant Ambani, inviting him to help bring a similar sanctuary to Maharashtra. We are considering calling it ‘Chand Tara’ or ‘Van Tara’,” the minister said.
Meanwhile, Congress Legislature Party leader Vijay Wadettiwar raised concerns over the growing resentment among locals due to frequent tiger attacks. He pointed out that farmers were not only living in fear but also suffering losses as wild animals, including tigers and leopards, were damaging crops.
Given the high concentration of big cats in Vidarbha, Bhandara MLA Narendra Bhondekar emphasised the need to relocate them to other regions like Western and North Maharashtra. In response, Naik noted that nearly 70% of Vidarbha’s land is covered with forests, making it a prime wildlife habitat.
Lawmakers across party lines voiced concerns over the increasing human-wildlife conflict. Taking note of the urgency, Assembly Speaker Rahul Narwekar agreed to hold a meeting to discuss the issue in detail.
