Maharashtra Release of wildlife funds stuck in red tape

NAGPUR: On first day of winter session, forest minister Dr Patangrao Kadam had promised that funds for three tiger reserves, wildlife sanctuaries and national parks in the state would be release in 24 hours. But almost 336 hours later, not a single rupee of the Rs 6.76 crore first installment of centrally sponsored scheme (CSS) funds has been released.

Interestingly, the finance department says it released the money on December 17 but wildlife wing says it has not received it. S P Kanade, joint secretary (finance), told TOI Rs 7.90 crore have been released from Mumbai under four schemes. However, until Tuesday night, money had not arrived in budgetdistribution system (BDS), the official channel to distribute funds. It seems even word of senior minister Dr Kadam is not kept.

On Tuesday, when the issue was taken up with Dr Kadam, he expressed surprise. "I'm learning from you that funds have not been released yet. Daily I meet top officials but none has apprised me of it. If they don't tell me about the problem how can I solve it? I will take up the issue with officials concerned on Wednesday," Dr Kadam told TOI.

Conservationists flayed rigid approach of the finance and planning department in releasing money. "Funds are delayed every year for one or the other reason. It has become a chronic problem. At a time when tigers are falling prey to poachers due to lack of protection, not releasing money for wildlife is criminal," they said.

Information sought under the RTI revealed that the wildlife wing had proposed Rs 13.35 crore for three tiger reserves Tadoba, Pench and Melghat & 31 sanctuaries and national parks under the CSS. Of this, Rs 10.80 crore has been sanctioned. The Centre has already released its share of Rs 6.76 crore towards first instalment by September 30. However, state government did not release the money.

Of its share of Rs 2.31 crore, the state released only Rs 1.02 crore on September 30. This amount too was released after much hassles and most of it went towardspayment of wages of forest workers engaged in protection work in parks. The workers were not paid for six months then. Now the situation is back to square one.

It is December and first instalment of CSS funds, which is 60% of the total sanctioned amount, has not been released. The managers of protected areas (PAs) are left with only three months to utilise the money. Unless utilisation certificate of 1st instalment is submitted, Centre does not release second instalment. Officials fear the PAs will go without the second instalment this financial year. It means less money for wildlife, which is already passing through grave crisis.

As there are no funds, number of workers has been curtailed hampering protection. Besides, crucial works like drawing fire lines, road repairs, cutting of grass, waterhole management have come to a grinding halt. In Pench Tiger Reserve, illegal fishing is rampant as patrolling boats are stranded for fuel. Many protection huts are unmanned as there is no money to pay wages.

The sanctioned amount includes Rs 4 crore for three tiger reserves including Rs 1.5 crore for TATR, Rs 1.70 crore for Melghat and Rs 80 lakh for Pench. Besides, Rs 2.75 crore has been sanctioned for sanctuaries and national parks. Forest officials said they had submitted all the information asked for in new format. "We also don't know why funds are held up?" they said.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/nagpur/Kadams-assurance-on-wildlife-funds-flouted/articleshow/5368093.cms

Wildlife award for Simlipal saviour

BARIPADA: For 36 years he has been guarding the forests, walking for miles even at night to protect the big cat, and has dared the bullets of marauders.

Prabir Kumar Palei, one of Project Tiger's longest-serving foot soldiers in Simlipal Tiger Reserve (STR) received the Wildlife Service Award from Bittu Sahgal, editor, Sanctuary Asia magazine in Mumbai recently.

The prestigious award was presented to the forester for his monumental contribution towards theconservation of STR for over three decades. Prabir joined as a field staff in 1974 and worked under the first field director, late Padmashree Saroj Raj Choudhury.

Present field director H S Upadhyaya congratulated Palei for his splendid achievement and said, "Keep it up!" Upadhyaya feels this honour should act as an incentive for juniors to emulate. Prabir, who received a citation and a cash award of Rs 25,000, said he was the first man in his team to defy the warning of security forces and continue to stay overnight in the Upper Barha-Kamuda (UBK) range office.

"I was happy that others in my team gathered courage to wipe out the fear psychosis that was triggered by the first ever offensive by Maoists on March 28, 2009. They have joined me in my efforts to protect the tiger." After the Maoist rampage in Simlipal, foresters were put on foot patrol only during daytime.

The citation presented said, "Prabir Kumar Palei has arrested over 100 people in a lifetime devoted to the protection of the tiger and has been attacked, ambushed and routinely threatened for his pains. But nothing is able to shake his steely resolve to protect the forest he loves. One of Project Tiger's longest-serving foot soldiers, he joined Similipal's frontline team in 1974.

Palei loves the forests and nothing could give away his love more than his rejection of coveted postings. He chose to be a simple foot soldier for 36 years. He had the good fortune to be mentored by Choudhury and literally walked thousands of miles on foot patrols. Palei "knows" Similipal like the back of his hand.

Despite Maoists terror, Palei and his team never buckled. The call of duty kept them ticking. With no roof over their head and only a damaged VHF communication tower to connect them with the rest of the world, he and his men returned to their post in UBK in the core of the forest. When warned by security forces against staying deep inside the forest after dark, he had responded: "Will you look after the forest?"

His mission now is to inspire new recruits who would have the requisite skills and passion to save the tiger. "Palei's name is synonymous with Simlipal. His service is unparalleled," said R N Marandi, another STR forester at Jashipur.

Centre to introduce stricter guidelines for tourist entry into wildlife areas

New Delhi: Tiger reserves, national parks and wildlife sanctuaries will soon become zones with restricted entry as the government plans to impose stringent regulations on tourism activities in these areas.

Concerned at the diminishing number of tigers and destruction of forest reserves due to increased commercial activities, the tourism ministry is planning to limit the number of tourists and hotels operating in and around reserves, national parks and wildlife sanctuaries. This means tourists would need to queue up in advance for entry permits or shell out more for a jeep.

India has 38 tiger reserves, 357 wildlife sanctuaries and 96 national parks. Roughly 700-1,000 tourists visit these every day. About 30 diesel-run jeeps and 15 canters also enter each reserve daily. Environmentalists believe increased tourism activities are affecting the ecological balance of these parks and reserves.

To regulate this, the tourism ministry plans to reduce the number of permits for parks and reserves by about 30-40%. It is also contemplating a temporary ban, of 3-4 years, on all tourism-related projects in these areas.

"National parks, hills, coastal areas and islands are eco-fragile zones. If we don't regulate activities there today, we will suffer later. So, we are planning to take stringent measures... Too many hotels and resorts block the corridors of animals," tourism secretary Sudip Banerjee said. Accordingly, the hotel classification guidelines are likely to be amended. All upcoming hotels near reserves on hills and in coastal areas, islands would now need an environmental clearance. There will be restrictions on change of land use, so that forest land or residential areas cannot be used for commercial purpose. Besides, the ministry will sensitise officials, tour operators, tourists and villagers on the importance of protecting environment.

Environmentalists call it a positive step but tour operators fear the regulation would hit jungle tourism. "We agree that animals get disturbed by regular tourism activities but such regulations would impact tourism. The costs are likely to go up for safaris and jungle stays if limited jeeps, canters or hotels are allowed," Ghananand Sharma, manager of India Wildlife Resort, said.

Tiger conservationist Belinda Wright hailed the move."There are very few parks where you can spot tigers. Tourism activities block the movement and corridors of animals," she said

Two tiger cubs found dead in Pench National Park in MP - DNA

Seoni (MP): Two tiger cubs were found dead in Raiyakasa region of Pench National Park here, officials said today.

A patrol party had informed the officials about the cub deaths on December 19 following which a team was sent to the spot to get their carcass, they said.

Officials said that it appears that the four-month old cubs died due to intense cold.

http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report_two-tiger-cubs-found-dead-in-pench-national-park-in-mp_1326336