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Suresh Prabhu announced that packages for a wildlife circuit comprising Kanha, Pench and Bandhavgarh tiger reserves will be offered soon
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New Delhi: To create awareness about the tiger, railway minister Suresh Prabhu on Thursday announced that complete packages, including train tickets, safaris and accommodation, for a wildlife circuit comprising Kanha, Pench and Bandhavgarh tiger reserves, will be offered soon.
The three are among the most visited tiger reserves of the 48 across the country.
“India’s rich biodiversity and wildlife is one of the mainstays of the Incredible India campaign. Last year, we initiated a project to target reduction in elephant collisions, especially in north-eastern states. This year, to spread awareness about our national animal, the tiger, we will offer complete packages, including train journey, safaris and accommodation, to cover the wildlife circuit comprising Kanha, Pench and Bandhavgarh," said Prabhu in his over hour-long budget speech.
According to estimates released by the environment ministry in January 2015, India is home to 70% of the world’s wild tigers. According to the numbers, there are around 2,226 tigers in 48 tiger reserves in the country, compared to 1,706 in 2010 and 1,411 in 2006.
Prabhu also said that the Indian Railways has huge tracts of land available along its rail network and will lease this space out to promote horticulture and tree plantation.
“This will encourage employment to underprivileged sections, Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, other backward classes, augment our food security and prevent encroachment on railway land. The possibility of using this space for generating solar energy will also be explored," he added.
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