Tigress chases tourist vehicle in Maharashtra, video goes viral
Nagpur, Nov 13: A video of a tigress chasing a tourist vehicle in the buffer zone of a tiger reserve in Maharashtra has gone viral on social media.
The video, shot in the Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve in Chandrapur district, has led to a concern among wildlife activists who want directives for tour operators and tourists not to block the national animal's path.
In the video clip, tourists are seen shocked after noticing the tigress running after their vehicle.
Range Forest Officer Raghvendra Moon said the incident occurred on Sunday. The three-and-a-half year old tigress 'Chhoti Madhu' may have been agitated by the proximity of the visitors' vehicle, he added.
This tigress is known to have charged at a tourist vehicle in the past as well, another official said. After that incident, a meeting of tourist guides and drivers was convened, where a warning was issued to keep a safe distance from tigers, he added.
After the earlier incident, the particular stretch of road in the forest was closed to visitors for a week, he said.
Forest officials also held meetings with tourist guides and drivers and asked them to keep their vehicles at least 50 metres away from the big cats.
Maharashtra has six tiger reserves which cover an area of around 9,116 sq km. They include Pench, Melghat, Sahyadri and Tadoba-Andhari, which attract wildlife enthusiasts in large numbers.
@deespeak @TandonRaveena This@morning at Tadoba , Chandrapur, a tigress chased a tourist vehicle . The guide warned them that the tigress chases vehicles but the tourist took it lightly and thought she was walking and won’t chase .moments later the tigress chased them . pic.twitter.com/jQKklQsIA2
— Parag Thakkar (@paragthakkar001) November 11, 2018
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
No stubble burning now, why air pollution crisis in Delhi: Mann takes dig at BJP
Chandigarh (PTI): Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Monday slammed the BJP saying its leaders used to "defame" Punjab farmers over stubble burning and blame them for Delhi's poor air quality and questioned why is there pollution crisis in national capital despite no farm fires now.
Mann said that as soon as paddy harvest takes place, BJP leaders blame Punjab and its farmers for Delhi's poor air quality.
He said they used to claim that stubble burning by Punjab farmers causes Delhi's pollution.
Mann said at present, the Air Quality Index in major Punjab cities is between 70 and 130.
"At present, Delhi's AQI is between 450 and 500 and no smoke is coming from Punjab. But the situation in Delhi is worse. At least now they should agree that there is no role of Punjab for Delhi's poor air quality," Mann said in a video message.
Mann's remarks came on a day Delhi Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa apologised for the air pollution crisis in the national capital and acknowledged its impact on children's health.
Sirsa, however, asserted that it was the result of the policies pursued by the previous Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government in Delhi.
ALSO READ: Goa nightclub fire: Luthra brothers deported from Thailand, taken into police custody
Last month, the BJP had trashed the Punjab CM's previous claim that stubble burning in the state has no role in the high levels of air pollution in Delhi as "ridiculous".
Dismissing Mann's claim, Delhi BJP president Virendra Sachdeva had last month said it is certain that stubble burning is a "major" factor (for the air pollution in Delhi).
Meanwhile, Mann in his video message said, due to severe floods which Punjab witnessed this year, paddy harvesting got delayed, "despite this, many Delhi ministers had already started blaming Punjab".
"I want to praise Punjab farmers, NGOs and efforts of the Punjab government have also paid off in controlling stubble burning this time. The cases of stubble burning in Punjab have reduced by 70-80 per cent and this has been acknowledged by the Central Government and the Union Agriculture Minister," Mann said.
The CM further said that after paddy harvest even the wheat crop has been sown and now, there is no incident of stubble burning.
He said BJP leaders used to claim that Punjab's smoke from stubble travels to Delhi.
"Now, there is no stubble burning, but Delhi is facing very poor air quality. This proves that earlier too Punjab's smoke had no role for Delhi's poor air quality. Only accusations were made by the BJP to defame Punjab. At least now the Centre should praise the farmers of Punjab," he said.
"Meanwhile, Delhi's AQI is between 450 and 500, flights are being cancelled, and breathing has become difficult," said Mann.
He asked both the BJP government in Delhi and the BJP led Centre to address Delhi's air pollution, saying citizens cannot even venture out for a walk due to air pollution.
He also asked the BJP that Punjab should not be dragged into this political battle, instead, Punjab's farmers should be appreciated, and the Delhi and Central governments should focus on addressing Delhi's air pollution.
Mann further said that farmers of Punjab are 'anndatas' (food providers) and they meet the country's food needs, they should not be defamed.
