NAGPUR: Deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar on Wednesday took top forest officials by surprise when he green signalled setting up of Special Tiger Protection Force (STPF) for two tiger reserves in Maharashtra. At a meeting held at Van Sabhagruha, Pawar agreed to set up STPF by creating 224 posts.
The National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA), a statutory body under the ministry of environment and forests (MoEF) monitoring the tiger reserves in the country, has mandated setting up of STPFs in tiger reserves with 100% central assistance. The STPF is to be set up in Pench & Tadoba-Andhari in Maharashtra, Dudhwa-Katerniaghat & 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 issue was hanging fire for over two years, with the state government taking no steps to set up STPF. The STPF will be on the lines of India Reserve Battalion. The guidelines were issued on February 5, 2009. Later, these norms were revised on May 11, 2009, with the condition of inducting policemen relaxed.
On Wednesday, top forest officials managed to convince Pawar, who issued orders to the finance department to create 224 posts for the STPF. Initially, a company of 112 in each reserve, headed by an assistant commandant and having three PSIs, six head constables and 90 constables is to be formed. Now the same battalion can be headed by forest officials.
Top forest officials told Pawar that the money towards salaries of the staff would come from the Centre. They also told the him that if, after 10 years, the Centre stops grants for STPF, many employees in the department would have retired and hence there will be no extra financial burden on the state.
Officials told Pawar that considering the danger to tiger and the need for urgently stepping up protection in sensitive areas having source populations of tiger with the active involvement of forest dwelling communities, the matter has been reviewed. The STPF would comprise of only forest personnel like ACF, RFOs, foresters and forest guards. However, 30% of the STPF guards would comprise local forest people. They will be entitled to same salary and emoluments through the service provider, as regular guards.
Among the other decisions, Pawar also agreed to set up a secret fund after he was told that Central Government was ready to give Rs 25 lakh for the purpose. He also directed the finance department officials to expedite release of money towards cattle and human kill compensation to save wildlife.
Officials also raised the issue of relocation of villages from tiger reserves in the state. Pawar was told that Rs 700 crore were needed to relocate all villages from the PAs in the state. Pawar managed to get Rs 80 crore to relocate villages in Koyna but relocation of villages in reserves in Vidarbha is completely stalled.
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