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> Melghat |
Melghat |
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History / Geography |
Two historic forts called Narnala and Gawilgarh
guard the main east-west ridge. In 1803, in the Second Maratha
War, Colonel Arthur Wellesley, who later became the Duke of
Wellington, captured the Gawilgarh fort from the Marathas. Melghat
was an automatic choice when Project Tiger was launched in 1973.
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Legends |
| The Bhavai Pooja is one of the local customs of
the Korku adivasis, performed annually at the onset of the monsoons.
Children between 10-12 years perform the puja. They bathe in
the nala or river near the village, catch a frog and bring it
back to the Hanuman temple, where the frog is put in a small
pot of water. The direction in which the water splashes is believed
to indicate the direction from which the rains will come. The
children then put the frog in a bamboo basket after smearing
it with wet mud and go from house-to-house singing that the
pools have all dried up. People who hear their song, come out
of their houses and pour water over them. In the evening, the
frog is brought back to the temple and released into the nala
or river the following day.
Rupa Bhavala is a nala that originates from a plateau in
Gugarnal National Park and joins the Gadga river as two waterfalls,
and ultimately meets the Tapti. Local legend has it that the
place is named after two lovers who jumped off the ledge here,
in the face of parental opposition. The story of the girl,
Rupa and her young lover is believed to symbolise eternal
love, in the union of the two waterfalls.
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Conservation Notes |
| Forest fires are a major problem because the dry,
deciduous forests are especially vulnerable and can ignite at
the smallest spark. Several fire-fighting camps have been established,
but there are under staffed and ill-equipped. Lantana has virtually
taken over the forest. Bamboo plantations are seen as a way
to counter the prolific growth of wild lantana. Indiscriminate
fishing in all the rivers, none of which are perennial, has
adverse consequences.
Overgrazing has facilitated rapid growth of weeds and also
affected the forest cover, especially in the periphery. Between
7,000 to 12,000 cattle are estimated to reside in the reserve.
Increased traffic along the Nagpur-Indore highway has brought
fresh problems from vehicles and people. The local tribal
practice of hunting for sambar and wild boar has grown manifold
with the threat of poachers who arm tribals (who once used
traditional arms) with guns. Tiger skins are obtained by ruthless
acts including poisoning waterholes and laying foot traps.
In 1991-92, a number of malnutrition deaths occurred among
tribals in the urbanised Dharni and Chikaldhara districts,
near the Park. The government spent over 30 crore to build
roads to connect the villages. This was in violation of the
Forest (Conservation) Act 1980 and the malnutrition deaths
were blamed on Project Tiger, although no untoward malnutrition
deaths took place in villages located inside the reserve.
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Suggested Reading |
• Sanctuary Asia Vol. VII No.2, 1987. Melghat
by Amrut Dhanwatay.
• Sanctuary Asia Vol.XVI No.4,
1996. The Melghat Trail by Peeyush Sekhsaria.
• Sanctuary
Asia Vol.XIX No.4, August 1999. Mission: Melghat by Kishor Rithe.
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