The Chhattisgarh cabinet in a meeting held on Wednesday under the chairmanship of chief minister Vishnu Deo Sai decided to establish the Guru Ghasidas-Tamor Pingla Tiger Reserve.

Following the recommendations of the state wildlife board meeting and the concurrence of the National Tiger Conservation Authority under the Union ministry of environment, forest and climate change, the Chhattisgarh cabinet has decided to notify the Guru Ghasidas-Tamor Pingla Tiger Reserve integrating the regions of Guru Ghasidas National Park and Tamor Pingla Sanctuary located in the districts of Manendragarh-Chirmiri-Bharatpur, Koriya, Surajpur, and Balrampur, encompassing an area of 2829.387 square kilometres.

The department of forest and climate change has been authorised to proceed with further formalities regarding its establishment.

The formation of this tiger reserve will foster eco-tourism in the state and create various employment opportunities for villagers residing in the core and buffer zones as guides, tourist vehicle operators, and resort managers, the Chhattisgarh government feels.

Additionally, the National Project Tiger Authority will provide an extra budget for the reserve's operations, which will facilitate new livelihood development projects in the surrounding villages.

Governor, CM attend Hemchand Yadav University convocation

The second convocation of Hemchand Yadav University, Durg, was held Wednesday in the presence of governor Ramen Deka and chief minister Vishnu Deo Sai. The event, organised in the BIT auditorium, saw 68 students being awarded research degrees and 48 students receiving gold medals for topping the merit list in various streams.

Divisional commissioner S.N. Rathore, IG R.G. Garg, collector Sushri Richa Prakash Choudhary, SP Jitendra Shukla, vice-chancellor Aruna Palta, registrar Bhupendra Kuldeep, along with local public representatives, educationists and other dignitaries were also present.