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Tuesday, July 21, 2009

Increase in compensation package

Minister MOEF has announced a recent policy decision in the Rajya sabha to increase compensation package for families to be relocated out of wildlife sancturies. The amount will now be Rs. 10 lacs as compared to Rs. 1 lac per family earlier. Though the increase is welcome and much needed, what is also needed urgently is to implement these packages in a fair, transparent and credible manner and ensure the money reaches the intended recepients. And for that the ministry should set up a committe of eminent people to oversee implementation else chances are that funds might be siphoned off and dislocate families will get very little of what they deserve.

Another dreaded poacher caught

The MP Forest officials caught a dreaded poacher in Katni couple of days back says a TOI report. What is interesting is that the history sheeter has been running amock killing lions, tigers and other wildlife for a few years now with the state officials busy protecting their own turn rather than doing their jobs. In fact this poachers father has also been a well known poacher who has been arrested a few times only to be let out on bail and carry on with his murky trade. The need of the hour is to have a central law enforcement agency with the powers of a CBI to investigate and prosecute wild life related criminals. Left it to state police and forest deprtements, wildlife will soon disppear in front of our eyes.