With rising tiger deaths becoming a great cause of worry for the government the Prime Minister has decided to personally take up the issue with state governments, particularly Uttarakhand government about unnatural tiger deaths in Corbett National Park. <br/> <br/>Addressing a press conference in New Delhi, Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh said that Dr. Manmohan Singh expressed his concern regarding tiger deaths during the meeting of National Board for Wildlife.<br/> <br/>Pointing to 60 tiger deaths last year, the minister said a conspiracy has been hatched by mining and estate mafia with the support of some politicians. He said the prime minister has agreed to lend weight of his office for monitoring state governments.<br/> <br/>As per recent official estimates, there are about 1,400 big cats across the 37 tiger reserves in the country, a sharp decline from 10,000 reported a decade ago.<br/> <br/>According to Ramesh, at least 18 tiger reserves are in a precarious situation with tiger populations nearing extinction. The government has initiated a process of moving out local communities from tiger reserves by providing financial package of 10 lakh rupees to each family. <br/> <br/>He said the Environment Ministry has decided to create a separate department of Forests and Wildlife for strengthening protection of wildlife species across the country. <br/>