BHUBANESWAR: More than four years after Satkosia was designated a Tiger Reserve, the Odisha Government has finally brought Mahanadi Wildlife Division under the unified control of the Field Director, meeting a long-standing demand of National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA). The Regional Conservator of Forests (RCCF), Angul, is the Field Director of Satkosia Tiger Reserve which comprises two wildlife sanctuaries such as Satkosia Gorge Sanctuary and Baisipally Sanctuary, both protected areas contiguous in nature.

Despite the twin instances of a low-flying chopper carrying a ruling BJD MP in Satkosia Tiger Reserve in violation of the Wildlife Protection Act having triggered a major controversy, the Odisha Government is yet to register a case against either the pilot or the owner of the helicopter. The violations took place in 2009 and 2010 and even forced the then Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh to intervene.

BHUBANESWAR: Renewed concerns over wildlife and environment may put a brake on the Brutanga irrigation project in Nayagarh district which was accorded stage-I forest clearance by the Centre a few days back.

BHUBANESWAR: A training programme for eco-tourism groups on Multiple Skills and Hospitality Management kicked off at Institute of Hotel Management, Catering Technology and Applied Nutrition here on Monday.

BHUBANESWAR: This April, Forest Survey of India recorded at least 960 incidents of forest fire in Orissa, as captured by the satellite.

ANGUL: The eco-tourism introduced at Satkosia forest region has yielded a record income of Rs 5.88 lakh in the current year. The nature camps at Tikarpara, a prominent tourist centre, was opened to tourists from November 7 to March 30 this year.

It attracted about 50,000 tourists both from the State and abroad. An estimated 5,000 four-wheelers have been registered at the gate this year.

ANGUL: Eco-Tourism at Satkosia sanctuary, this year, is expected to yield thrice the revenue of last year to the local community, which manages the nature camps. Nature camps were launched at Satkosia on November 7 this year and this facility would continue till March-end. The revenue so far has been nearly Rs 1.2 lakh in the form of bookings in just 24 days.

The Ministry of Environment and Forests today announced the takeover of Satkosia Wildlife Sanctuary under Project Tiger Programme. Along with seven other protected forest areas, Satkosia has been brought into the fold of Project Tiger as was decided earlier.