New challenge
On October 29, 1886, the Maharaja of Travancore and the Madras Province of the Indian Council entered into an agreement for leasing 8,000 acres (3237 hectare) for construction of Mullaperiyar dam and another 100 acres (40.5 hectare) for developing infrastructure. The term of lease was 999 years. The lake and the surrounding areas were declared reserved forests in 1899. The Maharaja of Travancore appointed C H Robinson as the Game Warden in 1933 and declared the area as the Nellikampetty Game Sanctuary in 1934.
In 1950, forest areas were added to the sanctuary resulting in the present Periyar Tiger Reserve (PTR), which extends over 777 square kilometres. The reserve is now facing pressure from Tamil Nadu, which receives water from the Mullaperiyar dam, to increase the height of the dam from 136 feet (41 metres) to 152 feet (46 metres). Raising the height would, however, mean submergence of area that has high animal density. This would affect the region's ecology.
PTR officials, on the other hand, are demanding that Tamil Nadu pay a sum of money to the reserve for benefits accrued from the catchment that has been well-protected.
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