Its taken years to accept, how many more for action

The MOEF minister in the Rajya sabha yesterday finally accepted that the tiger is in serious trouble in the country. Imagine all the media hype and pressure from the green brigade being brought on the govt has taken 3 years after the Sarika disaster coming to light to accept this. If this is the pace of things to come then one wonders how many years before the government takes credible action to sustain tiger population in the country and whether the big cat will survive in the wild till then. It is all fine to make statements in the parliament accepting there is a problem but what we have not seen being tabled by the minister or his predecessor are steps being taken by the govt to put an end to poaching and loss of tiger habitats. Apart from shfting the blame on state governments and tiger reserves there is need for the centre to get more actively involved in the protecting the national treasure. It is like saving the Taj Mahal. If the monument was in danger, the centre would not wait for the UP govt to act. MOEF needs to show similar leadership in saving the tiger before it is too late.

Ramesh expresses concern over tiger population

Sujay Mehdudia

http://www.hindu.com/2009/07/08/stories/2009070856711800.htm