THE JHARKHAND STORY NETWORK

Daltonganj, Dec 27: Principal Chief Conservator of Forest (PCCF) and Chief Wildlife Warden Kulwant Singh has directed the officials of the Palamu Tiger Reserve to enrich grasslands in the reserve with its home seeds.

PTR Deputy Director (south division) Kumar Ashish was with Singh during his detour to the PTR, wherein the latter inspected eco-tourism works at Betla, Kechki, and Netarhat.
He said, “The PCCF wildlife has asked us to have seeds of our grasses for our grasslands. There is no point in having seeds of grasses from outside.”

“The PCCF is rightful of the opinion that our soil and climate here in the PTR are the best indicators of the growth of the grasses. Hence, seed collection be sped up. It lasts one month, and seed collection is to be done sincerely and seriously,” added Ashish.

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The PTR is to raise an additional 200 hectares of new grasslands, each in its two divisions, south and north, as per the direction of the PCCF. The PTR has 1000 hectares of grassland only, which is significantly less than other grasslands of the tiger reserves in other tiger-bearing states.

The deer and bison are the major stakeholders of the grasses. Both herbivores prefer nutritional grasses. Young, green, and succulent grasses are the favourites of the deer.

Bison, having such a feature, lives on grasses only and goes to eat grasses at least 9 to 11 hours a day, preferring highly nutritional value grasses.

Grasses of the warm and cool seasons have their features. Training in grass management here was imparted to PTR personnel in Betla long ago by India’s famed grass expert, Dr G D Muratkar.

The PCCF wildlife inspected four tourist cottages at Netarhat and a similar number at Kechki.

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