Context:- Recently, Tamil Nadu state government has given its approval for the creation of a fifth tiger reserve in Tamil Nadu named Srivilliputhur Megamalai Tiger Reserve (SMTR).
About Srivilliputhur Megamalai Tiger Reserve
- It will encompass the Meghamalai and Srivilliputhur Grizzled Squirrel Wildlife Sanctuaries.
- The new tiger reserve will lead to wildlife protection of the country’s flagship species and will also result in the rejuvenation of the Vaigai river by protecting the river’s origins in these forests.
- Vaigai is a lifeline for five districts and provides drinking water to nearly one crore people.
- It will give a boost to tiger conservation in the State.
- Tigers from the neighbouring Periyar Tiger Reserve and Anamalai Tiger Reserve regions can find significant habitats and breed in the terrains of Megamalai and Srivilliputhur which are largely uninhabited” and could “offer excellent genetic exchange grounds”
Key facts about Vaigai River
- It is a river in Tamil Nadu state.
- Origin: It rises in the Varushanad Hills of the Western Ghats.
- It travels through the Pandya Nadu region of Tamil Nadu.
- It is the major river in the fabled city of Madurai, the capital of the ancient and prosperous Pandya kingdom located in southern Tamil Nadu.
- The river finds a mention in Sangam literature dated to 300 before Common Era.
- Length: Vaigai River is 258 kilometres long.
- Tributaries: Its main tributaries are Suruliyaru, Mullaiyaru, Varaganadhi, Manjalaru, Kottagudi, Kridhumaal and Upparu.
- It finally empties into the Palk Strait near the Pamban Bridge in Ramanathapuram district.
- Vaigai Dam: The Vaigai dam is termed to be an important dam that is built across the river near Andipatti in the Theni district of Tamil Nadu.
- The river fulfils the drinking water requirement of five districts of Tamil Nadu namely, Theni, Madurai, Ramnathapuram, Sivagangai and Dindigul. It also provides irrigation to 200,000 hectares of agricultural land.
- The once perennial river is now completely dry, and animals in large numbers graze on its riverbed.
FAQs about Srivilliputhur Megamalai Tiger Reserve
A1: Srivilliputhur Megamalai Tiger Reserve (SMTR) is significant because it will lead to the protection of the country’s flagship species, such as tigers, and contribute to wildlife conservation in Tamil Nadu. It will also help in rejuvenating the Vaigai River by safeguarding its origins in the forests of Megamalai and Srivilliputhur.
A2: The Vaigai River is a major river in Tamil Nadu and holds great cultural and ecological importance. It originates in the Varushanad Hills of the Western Ghats and passes through the Pandya Nadu region. It is crucial for five districts in Tamil Nadu, providing drinking water to nearly one crore people and supporting irrigation for agricultural land.
A3: The Vaigai River is approximately 258 kilometers long.
Read also:- National Tiger Conservation Authority: Project Tiger
