Ban On Padayatra by Devotees in Nallamala Forests Till Feb. 8
Atmakur division project director Vijayakumar suggested that devotees can instead take the alternative route through Dornala to reach Srisailam
ANANTAPUR: In view of the ongoing census of tigers in the Nagarjunasagar Srisailam Tiger Reserve in the forest ranges of Atmakur, Nagaluty and Srisailam in Nandyal district, Forest department has issued orders restricting padayatra by devotees through the Nallamala forest.
The restrictions, which started from January 3, will continue till February 8. The padayatra through the Nallamala forest will be permitted thereafter.
With the Mahashivarthri scheduled on February 15, devotees will start their padayatra in thousands from Karnataka, Maharashtra, AP and TS to reach the Srisailam Temple.
In a press release, Atmakur division project director Vijayakumar mentioned the importance of the All India Tiger Estimation (AITE). “Devotees are advised not to plan their travel by foot between Venkatapuram and Hatakeshwaram via Pecheruvu and Nagaluty till February 8 in the interest of AITE exercise,” he said.
Vijayakumar suggested that devotees can instead take the alternative route through Dornala to reach Srisailam.
The third phase of the tiger census began from January 3 in Nagarjunasagar and Srisailam reserve. Camera traps have been commissioned in Block-1 of the Atmakur, Nagaluty and Srisailam ranges.
The area for census has been divided into two blocks. In each block, camera traps remain installed for 35 days based on the movement of tigers. Padayatra has been banned, so that movement of tigers is not disturbed and their numbers are successfully captured.
