NAGPUR: The state government did grant more space for tigers by notifying buffer zones of three tiger reserves, but much needs to be done on the protection front. The state is yet to comply with theNational Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) guidelines for raising, arming and deploying Special Tiger Protection Force (STPF) in tiger reserves with 100% central assistance.
The STPF is to be set up in Pench and Tadoba-Andhari tiger reserves in Maharashtra; Dudhwa-Katerniaghat and Corbett in Uttar Pradesh, Ranthambhore in Rajasthan, Kanha, Bandhavgarh & Pench in Madhya Pradesh, Pakke in Arunachal Pradesh, Bandipur in Karnataka, Mudumalai in Tamil Nadu, Kaziranga in Assam and Similipal in Orissa.
The NTCA had initially issued the guidelines on February 5. It revised the norms on May 11, 2009 after detailed consultations with tiger states and ministry of home affairs. The STPF will be on the lines of India Reserve Battalion. The state is yet to respond positively.
Talking to TOI, DC Pant, principal chief conservator of forests (PCCF) for wildlife, said the department has to raise two battalions of 120 each for Pench and Tadoba. Earlier, one battalion was to be headed by an assistant commandant, 3 PSIs, 6 head constables and 90 constables. But police department has declined to part with its staff.
In view of this, the NTCA revised norms and as a second option, the STPF is to comprise only forest personnel like ACFs, RFOs, foresters and forest guards. A 30% of the STPF guards will comprise locals.
The outsourced persons will be entitled to the same salary and other emoluments through the service provider, as regular forest guards. The structure of a company, command and control, recruitment, legal immunity and related issues remains the same.
Pant says now with the first option out, "we have to set up the STPF on our own". "The proposal is pending with the government and it will take time to create new posts. Till the STPF is not created, temporarily we will take help of home guards for protection," he added.
However, considering the endangered status of tiger and the need for urgently stepping up protection in reserves, STPF is a necessity. Conservationists are now asking, "What's the problem when 100% assistance will be given by the Centre?" The worst is that the state government has imposed a ban on recruitment in forest department.
The process is on for providing central assistance during the financial year and chief wildlife wardens have been requested to send the MoU for implementing the initiative in conformity.
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