Wednesday, August 19, 2009
Minister MOEF wants tigers in Gujarat
A report in Indian Express today cites a letter sent by Jairam Ramesh to Gujrat forest minister proposing relocating tigers into the state. Tigers used to raom in the state as recently as 10 years back the repopulating the state will expand the tiger conservation efforts significantly by brining in new areas under protection. Apart from Gujarat the minister should look at other such areas/states which have forest cover to be able to hold sustainable tiger population. Spreading the animal far and wide and involving local communities in protection will go a long way in keeping our national pride from extinction.
Bihar leads the way in calousness
A report in TOI cites how valmiki tiger reserve in Bihar is gradually loosing its protection force due to non payment of salaries to guards for the past few months. With the centre keen to provide monetary assistance to state govt, state officials have not signed the MOU with NTCA which will make them eligible to receive these funds. Such criminal negligence smacks might lead to the reserve loosing its tigers soon if affective steps are not taken immediately. Though the report also quotes state forest minster saying the MOUwill be signed soon, one wonders whether our lawmakers stand for protection of forest areas or are siding with poaching mafias and helping them tear down green corridors by simply ensuring delays in signing such agreements.
State fails to get Central aid for tiger reserve
Orrisa CM wants central forces for forest protection
Given the large scale violence being perpetrated by maoists across the red corridor and the collateral damage it is causing to tiger reserves in affected states Orissa CMs demand yesterday for CRPF to be deployed at Similipal might initiate a debate on how best to protect these parks. It is worth noting that Similipal in Orrisa has borne the brunt of maoists as well as land mafia in recent months. With forest protection staff driven out by crime syndiate media reports have cited a free for all inside the park with poaching, tree felling going on rampantly. Asking for CRPF protection might be a desperate cry for help but central forest ministry might want to pay heed to such demands. Recently at the Tiger conservation meet at Sariska, NTCA head had proposed taking off those reserves off list which are affected by serious maoist violence and where both counting and protection has not been carried out at all. Rather than leaving these areas to their own the ministry should work along side Home ministry to chalk out a action plan to protect these areas. With the home ministry planning a full scale offensive against the red brigade post monsoon it might betime for the MOEF to get into the picture and move in to take steps towards protecting forest areas.
Naveen urges centre to deploy CRPF at sanctuaries , national parks in state
Jairam Rames wants caged minister investogated
Minister MOEF has asked for central Zoo authority to investigate the matter relating to Maharashtra Agriculture minister entering a tiger cage and petting the cub. Given the laxity with which laws are implemented and invetigations carried out in our country it wont be surprising if nothing comes out of it. All the media attention has atleast ensured no one would want to repeat the act again in front of cameras.
Environmental clearances new licence raj, says Manmohan
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