NAGPUR: After being thrown out from projects around Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve (TATR), the mining lobby, in collusion with some forest officials, seems to be making last ditch efforts to see that reserve’s buffer zone is not notified.
Once the buffer zone is notified, mines will automatically not be permitted in the area. The 625 sq km TATR is proposed to have an additional buffer of over 1150 sq km that includes 79 villages. Notifying buffer around tiger reserves has become mandatory after September 4, 2006, amendment in Wildlife Protection Act (1972). Buffer areas with forest connectivity are imperative for tiger conservation as they foster tiger population. These areas also absorb poaching ‘shock’.
However, the state is not serious about notifying buffers. Forest minister Patangrao Kadam has called a meeting on February 25, in Chandrapur, to hear views of people representatives. The letter issued by the forest ministry on February 10 about the meeting doesn’t call it ‘public hearing’.
Yet, a section of forest officials, allegedly on behalf of by the mining lobby, are terming this as ‘public hearing’. It is being done to prompt opposition from villagers to the buffer zone. Actually, the process of consultation in all 79 villages in the proposed buffer has been done and people’s views have been submitted through a report to the committee on buffer.
The wildlife wing had promised to address their fuel wood and fodder issues through a comprehensive plan and finally the panel had recommended the buffer. Kishor Rithe, president of Satpuda Foundation, an NGO working for tiger conservation in Central India, has strongly objected to such ‘public hearing’. He says ‘public hearing’ or ‘public consultation’ is conducted under the Environment Protection Act (EPA) 1986 for certain projects and TATR buffer does not fall under such projects.
“How can anybody call a ‘public hearing’ on this?” he asked. Rithe, who was also a member on the committee to notify buffer, has stated that TATR buffer has to be notified under the Wildlife Protection Act 1972 and not under the EPA, which needs a public hearing. Under WPA, the government can issue notification directly.
“We have already pointed out this delay to the forest secretary B P Pande in presence of union environment minister Jairam Ramesh during latter’s visit to Chandrapur last month,” Rithe said. Rithe felt arranging public hearing or public consultation again, may have legal implications.
“The possibility of some efforts by mining lobby to oppose the buffer by raising some irrelevant issues cannot be ruled out,” he apprehended. Sudhir Mungantiwar, BJP MLA from Ballarshah, agrees. “I’m not opposed to buffer. TATR buffer needs to be notified to keep mines away.
We have suffered a lot due to mining and people don’t want it. However, we want a written assurance from the state that even if buffer is notified, compensation towards cattle and human kills by tigers and damage to crop by wildlife will not be stopped. The government should also commit that villages coming in the buffer will be relocated in future,” Mungantiwar said.
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Parambikulam Wildlife sanctuary to be made Tiger Reserve
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Parambikulam wildlife sanctuary in Palakkad district in Kerala, home to some of the most endangered species of animals and birds, will be declared a tiger reserve on February 19 by union environment minister Jairam Ramesh.
"It will then become the second 'tiger reserve' in Kerala after Thekkady wildlife sanctuary and 38th in the country," state forest minister Binoy Viswam told reporters here.
The sanctuary will have a core area of 390.88 sq km and a buffer area of 252.77 sq km coming under Chalakudy, Vazhachal and Nermara forest division, he said.
Viswam said the government had taken all steps to ensure that functioning of plantations in the area was not affected due to the sanctuary being declared a tiger reserve.
He said the government had also taken number of steps to protect the environment and bio-diversity of the state, but did not specify what they were.
The sanctuary is home to animals like lion tailed macaques, Nilgiri Tahr and Gaur, reptiles like Indian rock python, Malabar pit viper, Travancore tortoise, south Indian forest ground gecko, 134 species of rare birds and 47 varieties of fish, of which seven have been listed as endangered.
"It will then become the second 'tiger reserve' in Kerala after Thekkady wildlife sanctuary and 38th in the country," state forest minister Binoy Viswam told reporters here.
The sanctuary will have a core area of 390.88 sq km and a buffer area of 252.77 sq km coming under Chalakudy, Vazhachal and Nermara forest division, he said.
Viswam said the government had taken all steps to ensure that functioning of plantations in the area was not affected due to the sanctuary being declared a tiger reserve.
He said the government had also taken number of steps to protect the environment and bio-diversity of the state, but did not specify what they were.
The sanctuary is home to animals like lion tailed macaques, Nilgiri Tahr and Gaur, reptiles like Indian rock python, Malabar pit viper, Travancore tortoise, south Indian forest ground gecko, 134 species of rare birds and 47 varieties of fish, of which seven have been listed as endangered.
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