Government of
Maharashtra
• Forest Department
Melghat Where Valleys Cradle the Wild
The Melghat Tiger Reserve is administered through a unified forest management structure covering its wildlife divisions, national park and surrounding wildlife sanctuaries.
The entire area of Melghat Tiger Reserve is administratively controlled by the Chief Conservator of Forests and Field Director, having headquarters at Amravati.
The area has been divided into three Wildlife Divisions: Sipna Wildlife Division, Paratwada; Gugamal Wildlife Division, Paratwada; and Akot Wildlife Division, Akot.
The entire area of the Reserve, including Wan, Ambabarwa and Narnala Sanctuaries, along with three Deputy Conservators of Forests and their staff, was placed under the Directorate through Government of Maharashtra Order No. WLP/1094/Pra 211/F-1/Dated 26th April 1999 for unified control.
Govt. of Maharashtra, Revenue & Forests Department vide Gazette Notification No. WLP 1978/10553 (9), F-5, dated 5th September 1985, declared an area of 1597.23 sq km as Melghat Tiger Sanctuary.
Govt. of Maharashtra, Revenue & Forests Department vide Notification No. WLP-1086/18061/F-5 dated 27th November 1987 declared its intention to constitute an area of 361.80 sq. km. as a National Park.
The total area of Melghat Tiger Reserve was enhanced from 1597.23 sq. km. to 1624.30 sq. km. on 27th November 1987.
Govt. of Maharashtra, Revenue & Forests Department vide Gazette Notification No. WLP-1092/Pra-526/F-5, dated 15th February 1994, reconstituted the area of Melghat Sanctuary to 1150.03 sq. km. on administrative grounds.
Reserve Forest area of Melghat Sanctuary was finally notified as Melghat Sanctuary vide Notification No. W.L.P-10-2000, C.R-41/F-1 dated 6th November 2000, admeasuring 767.36 sq. km.
Final notification about Gugamal National Park was issued vide No. WLP-1098/CR-135/F-1 dated 8th August 2000, admeasuring 361.28 sq. km.
During 1985, Government of Maharashtra vide its notification no. WLP 1978/10553(9), F-5, dated 5th September 1985 issued notification under section 18 of Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 declaring its intention to constitute Melghat Tiger Sanctuary extending over an area of 1597.23 sq. km.
The prime object of constituting an area as “Melghat Sanctuary” was to create a wildlife habitat which should be free from any biotic interference.
The Government issued another notification delimiting the Sanctuary area to 1150.03 sq. km.
Constituting Sanctuary necessitated acquisition of 76.63 sq. km. non-forest land occupied by 58 villages.
Acquisition of land to such a large extent, shifting of people, rehabilitation, requirement of land and funds for rehabilitation made the process a substantial administrative task.
The area comprised in the Sanctuary is Reserve Forests notified vide notification No. 344 dated 4th November 1901.
An area of 12.35 sq. km. was declared as Narnala Wildlife Sanctuary in 1997 as per clause (b) of sub-section (1) of section 26(a) of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 vide Government of Maharashtra Notification No. WLP/1096/CR-279/F-1 dated 2nd May 1997.
The areas comprised in the Sanctuary are Reserved Forests, Protected Forests and cultivation land of ex-forest villages situated in the Sanctuary.
An area of 102.10 sq. km. of Reserve Forest was declared as Ambabarwa Wildlife Sanctuary in 1997 as per section 26(A) of Wildlife Protection Act 1972 vide Govt. of Maharashtra Notification No. WLP/1094/CR-123/F-1 dated 9th April 1997.
The areas comprised in the Sanctuary are Reserve Forests and cultivation land of ex-forest villages.
An area of 205.86 sq. km. of Reserve Forest was declared as Wan Wildlife Sanctuary in 1997 as per section 26(A) of Wildlife Protection Act 1972 vide Govt. of Maharashtra Notification No. WLP/1097/CR-5/F-1 dated 29th July 1997.
