The Corbett Tiger Reserve (CTR) officials have been asked by the Union Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change to rename the CTR as Ramganga National Park (RNP).

The reason being the Rāmgangā river which flows in the reserve is its lifeline.

It was during Ashwini Kumar Choubey, the Minister of State for Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MOEFCC) visit to the reserve on Sunday (October 3), he has asked the CTR Director to initiate the renaming process, as per information shared by a forest official.

According to a report in Hindustan Times, the CTR Director, Rahul yesterday disclosed that, “The minister during his visit to the reserve had said Ramganga national park is a good name instead of CTR so initiate the renaming process of CTR. If the forest ministry instructs us to prepare a proposal of this sort, we will act accordingly.”

The Minister’s visited CTR on occasion of conclusion of the tiger safari organised for the protection of tigers held under Amrit Mahotsav. While speaking during the event at the Dhangarhi museum, he mentioned that CTR officials should rename the reserve to RNP as it is a good name and related to Indian nature and landscape.

Besides, this the Minister also mentioned Ramganga in his message and in the visitors’ book.

Established in 1936, this reserve at first named Hally National Park after Malcolm Haily, the Governor of the then UP province following which after Independence, it was rechristened as Ramganga National Park in 1954-55. The very next year it became Corbett Tiger Reserve after the name of hunter and writer Jim Corbett.

The reserve is one of the top ones in the country and spread over 520 kilometres and boasts of rich flora and fauna, including tigers, leopards, elephants, deer, bear and several species of other wild animals, reptiles and birds.

With lakhs of tourists flocking at the reserve, it earns around Rs.10 crore according to the Director.

Also read: Private buses barred from core area of Corbett Tiger Reserve by SC