The India
Eco-development project was started in Pench Tiger reserve in 1996-97
with the aid from World Bank. Under this project 99 villages around the
tiger reserve have been identified in order to develop their own
resources, so that their dependency on the project area is mitigated. In
return , they will co-operate and participate in protection of Tiger.
LocationMain
Entrance Gate at Turia is 12 kms from Khawasa. Khawasa lies on Nagpur
Jabalpur NH-7 just on border of Madhya Pradesh & Maharashtra.
Khawasa is 80 kms from Nagpur and 190 kms from Jabalpur end.
Pench
National park, nestling in the lower southern reaches of the satpuda
hills is named after Pench river, meandering through the park from north
to south. It is located on the southern boundary of Madhya Pradesh,
bordering Maharashtra, in the districts of Seoni and Chhindwara.
The
undulating terrain of Pench is covered with small hills and well stocked
taek and mixed forest. The main flora being Teak (Tectona grandis) ,
Saja (Terminalia tomentosa), Bija (Pterocarpus marsupium), Lendia,
Haldu, Dhaora, Aonla, Amaltas etc. The ground is covered with a number
of grasses, bushes, herbs & shrubs. Dazzling white Kullu trees
scattered around singly in the forest is conspicuous among various hues
of green. The old plantations of Teak & Bamboo add orderly vistas in
the otherwise general wilderness.
The flow of Pench river stops
in December, what remains are a few scenic and serene pools in the river
bed. There are a few perennial springs and tanks. At the southern
boundary of park, the Pench river has been dammed for Pench hydroelectic
project at Totladoh. At the maximum capacity the reservoir submerges 54
sq kms of the park area. This had been the loss of best valley forest,
which was once referred by Sir Rudyard Kipling in his book named "Jungle
Book". This large reservoir of Pench with sporadic islands attract
a number of winter birds from north.
Cheetal, SamBAR, Neelgai
are commonly seen grazing on the open sites on roadsides and banks of
river & reservoir. Jackals can be seen in search of food anywhere in
park . Packs of wild dogs can also be seen occasionally . Herds of Gaur
can be spotted near streams and bamboo patches, more common during
summer months.
Langurs are very common. Whereas Rhesus monkeys
may be seen occasionally on the fringes There are around 50 Tigers and
30 Leopards they are a shy lot and can be seen on roads and near water
pools of river during summer months. Pench boasts of more than 210
species of birds including several migratory ones. Commonly seen are Pea
fowl, Red jungle fowl, Crow pheasant, Crimson breasted barbet, Redvented
bulbul, Racket tailed drongo, Magpie robin, Lesser whistling teal.
