New tiger reserve may revive Vaigai at source

CHENNAI: Tamil Nadu's fifth tiger sanctuary, Srivilliputhur-Megamalai Tiger Reserve, will help revive the Moola Vaigai, the source of Vaigai in the high altitudes within the area for the reserve carved out from Megamalai Wildlife Sanctuary in Theni, wildlife experts say.
They also said the reserve, which the state is preparing to open, would create many job opportunities.
The new reserve will be created by carving out 50,000 hectares of forest area from Megamalai Wildlife Sanctuary in Theni and 47,000 hectares from the adjoining Grizzled Giant Squirrel Sanctuary in Srivilliputhur, foresters said. It will be the second largest tiger reserve in Tamil Nadu, next only to Sathyamangalam Tiger Reserve (1.4 lakh hectares).
In response to residents of the area, including an AIADMK MLA who opposed the new tiger reserve, wildlife officials said rejuvenating Moola Vaigai will benefit wild flora and fauna and also ensure that people of five districts - Dindigul, Madurai, Ramanathapuram, Sivaganga and Theni -have a stable supply of water from the Vaigai. "Nearly 90 lakh people in these districts will benefit directly," a senior wildlife officer said.
He said encroachments in Megamalai will be removed to revive the Moola Vaigai and improve water availability in the river.
"Water availability along the course of the Vaigai will increase to nine months a year from the current two months a year," he said.
Foresters have reported an increase in the tiger population and other big cats in areas that will make up the new reserve. Around half a dozen tiger sightings have been reported from the Vannathiparai reserve forests and Upper Manalar area in Megamalai sanctuary. Tigers have been sighted in all four ranges of the Grizzled Giant Squirrel Sanctuary, especially in the Rajapalayam range. We hope to declare the tiger reserve open by the end of the year, the senior wildlife officer said.