NAGPUR: The Nagpur forest division and rural police will launch a joint drive to check wildlife crime in vulnerable areas soon. The decision was taken on Tuesday at the district tiger cell meeting.
The move follows recent seizure of deer meat from the city. The district tiger cell headed by superintendent of police CH Wakde met at his office. Conservator of forests for Nagpur division N Rambabu, member-secretary and divisional forest officer (vigilance) DW Pagar, conservationists, police and MSEDCL officials were also present. Wakde assured all cooperation to the forest department in curbing wildlife crime.
Rambabu told TOI, “We have decided to seriously follow the system of maintaining ‘musafir’ registers in villages to keep track of strangers in the area. Besides, large-scale public awareness will be launched in the division with the help of wall paintings and posters.” The CF said a joint drive of regular field staff and police is planned in vulnerable areas to flush out habitual wildlife criminals.
Meanwhile, the four accused caught with deer meat on Sunday at Dighori naka, Dashrath Shettiyar, Seluraj Shetty, Sanmugan Shettiyar and Subramanyam Shetty, all residents of Bhuteshwar Nagar near Gangabai Ghat, have been granted bail. All accused were produced before the judicial magistrate first class (JMFC) PD Deshmukh, who granted conditional bail on surety of Rs 10,000 each.
Wednesday, August 4, 2010
Admn can’t identify allocated coal blocks near Taadoba
CHANDRAPUR: The committee constituted by National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) to study the impact of various proposed coal and thermal power projects on the buffer and corridors of tiger reserves has come across a serious flaw in the allocation of coal blocks to mining companies. It has been found in some instances that though the companies have approached the ministry of environment and forest (MoEF) for environment clearance, the district administration and forest department, whose land will be acquired, are completely ignorant about the proposal, and even unaware of the location of the proposed project.
The three-member committee of NTCA was shocked when the district administration and forest department failed to locate the project site of a proposed coal mine by M/s Push Steel and Mining (P) Ltd falling in the tiger corridor. This company has been allocated a coal block in Bramhapuri for mining of 0.36 MTPA of coal in an area spread over 360 ha of land. The land includes 194.524 ha of private land, 56.957 of non-forest land and 108.519 ha of forest land. Kishor Rithe, wildlife expert and member of NTCA committee, confirmed that the administration failed to locate the Bramhapuri coal block allocated to Push Ltd during their visit for inspection. “None of the project proponents was present at a meeting held at the office of conservator of forest in Chandrapur to examine the proposal. Moreover, forest officials had no clue about the project, even as a major chunk of forest land is required for the proposed mine. Even officials of the district administration could not locate the project site. Hence, the site inspection could not be carried out,” said Rithe.
District mining officer Meena Nikhare confirmed that the company has not submitted any proposal seeking mining lease to their department, and they have no official details about the proposed project. Conservationists in Chandrapur have cried foul over the allocation of coal blocks in the district.
The three-member committee of NTCA was shocked when the district administration and forest department failed to locate the project site of a proposed coal mine by M/s Push Steel and Mining (P) Ltd falling in the tiger corridor. This company has been allocated a coal block in Bramhapuri for mining of 0.36 MTPA of coal in an area spread over 360 ha of land. The land includes 194.524 ha of private land, 56.957 of non-forest land and 108.519 ha of forest land. Kishor Rithe, wildlife expert and member of NTCA committee, confirmed that the administration failed to locate the Bramhapuri coal block allocated to Push Ltd during their visit for inspection. “None of the project proponents was present at a meeting held at the office of conservator of forest in Chandrapur to examine the proposal. Moreover, forest officials had no clue about the project, even as a major chunk of forest land is required for the proposed mine. Even officials of the district administration could not locate the project site. Hence, the site inspection could not be carried out,” said Rithe.
District mining officer Meena Nikhare confirmed that the company has not submitted any proposal seeking mining lease to their department, and they have no official details about the proposed project. Conservationists in Chandrapur have cried foul over the allocation of coal blocks in the district.
MP to launch ''Patrolling the Tiger Land'' scheme for tourists
Bhopal, Aug 3 (PTI) Madhya Pradesh will launch a novel scheme "Patrolling the Tiger Land" from this October in which tourists visiting the national parks will get an opportunity to trek forest with the patrolling parties. Under the scheme, tourists will be able to trek forests along with patrolling parties in the national parks in the state so that they can have a real experience of wildlife and flora and fauna, official sources said today. The tourists national park/sanctuary will be provided with a patrolling party/trek by the range officer concerned or any other competent authority, they said, adding the tourists would be able to go into deep jungles accompanied by patrolling party. Tourists will be allowed to carry food and drinking water with them. They will have to pay vehicle entry fees as per rules apart from separate charges for trekking the forest along with the patrolling party, they said. Only four tourists will be allowed to accompany a patrolling party and they will be allowed to take rest in the camps of the forest department, officials said. Children below the age of 12 years will not be allowed under this system, they said. This arrangement will come into force from the next tourism seasonbeginning from October 16.
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