- The approval for setting up SMTR was given by the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) under Section 38 V(1) of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.
- Meghamalai WLS covers the district of Theni & Madurai and Srivilliputhur WLS lies along the Periyar Tiger Reserve in Kerala.
- Forest Officials have identified around 14 Tigers in Meghamalai and Srivilliputhur Wildlife Sanctuaries.
Continuous Stretch for Conservation of Tigers:
SMTR will serve as a link between Meghamalai WLS and Srivilliputhur WLS and further connect it with Tirunelveli WLS & Kalakkad Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve making it a continuous corridor for conservation of tigers.
Rejuvenation of Vaigai River:
Apart from helping in conservation of Tigers, SMTR will also help in rejuvenation of Vaigai river by protecting its origin in the Forests.
- The river Vaigai originates from the Varusanadu Hills of Western Ghats.
Declaration of Tiger Reserves:
Tiger Reserves are declared by NTCA via Wild Life (Protection) Amendment Act, 2006 under the scheme ‘Project Tiger’.
- In order to declare an area as Tiger Reserve, State Governments should forward their proposals to NTCA.
Facts:
Tamil Nadu’s First Tiger Reserve – Kalakkad Mundanthurai created between 1988 and 1989.
The 4th Tiger Reserve in Tamil Nadu is Sathyamangalam which was formed between 2013 and 2014.
About Tamil Nadu:
Lakes – Kaliveli Lake (Recently in News), Veeranam Lake, Berijam Lake
Tiger Reserves – Anamalai, Kalakad Mundanthurai, Mudumalai, Sathyamangalam
