Tiger number up? Minister Ramesh drops hint

New Delhi: The new tiger census -- the results of which are expected in November -- may have some “good news”. Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh has said he is expecting the tiger count in the country to go up.

CNN-IBN has accessed information that puts the number of tigers in the country at around 1,600 to1,800--it was earlier 1411 Scientists at the Wildlife Institute of India are however cautious and say they are still analyzing the census data and it is too soon for them to make any projection.

“I hope we are going to see some good news on tigers when the new results come out in November,” said Environment and Forest Minister Jairam Ramesh.

“I don't know what we are going to see -- we are just receiving the data from states. I seriously hope there’s a good news about it. I have no indication to say that there is increase in tiger population as of yet,” said Ramesh about the census on Thursday.

http://ibnlive.in.com/news/tiger-number-up-minister-ramesh-drops-hint/128332-3.html?from=tn

Ugly spat between TATR officials plays out in full public view

Thakre defies HoFF orders, reports sick

NAGPUR: The unsavoury drama in the tussle for Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve (TATR) field director’s post continued for the third day on Thursday. Field director SP Thakre refused to follow the orders by head of forest force (HoFF) issued on Thursday to hand over charge to new incumbent VK Sinha.

After attending office till lunch, he reported sick in the evening and did not show up. Seeing the tussle between two officials taking an ugly turn, HoFF AK Joshi had sent a fax to Thakre on Thursday, directing him to hand over charge to Sinha before 6pm. However, after receiving the fax, Thakre left office and did not return.

Calls made by TOI correspondents in Chandrapur and Nagpur were not returned by Thakre. Till 6pm, Sinha, who has already taken charge on his own on August 3, had not been handed over possession of the office by Thakre. Sinha too did not respond to calls made to him. Additional chief secretary for revenue M Ramesh Kumar, who is holding additional charge of forest, told TOI there is no written stay in favour of Thakre.

The orders to transfer Sinha were issued by the chief minister and should have been followed. "We are examining the facts and would decide on disciplinary action after verifying them. Prima facie, I feel Thakre has flouted the CM’s orders," Ramesh Kumar said. Thakre has been transferred toForest Development Corporation of Maharashtra (FDCM) on July 13 as regional manager (headquarters) at Nagpur, in place of Sinha, but he is not interested in joining. On Wednesday, Thakre had locked the office and vanished. According to highly placed sources, Thakre sought the help of BJP MLA from Ballarpur Sudhir Mungantiwar to get his transfer stalled. He also played the ‘Marathi manoos’ card to see that he is not shifted out.

A few months ago, a news items had appeared in a local daily giving caste colour to TATR management, instead of focusing on professionalism. Talking to TOI, Mungantiwar said, "I had recommended a month ago that Thakre should be retained here. I was told that he is being shifted because he is a ‘Marathi’, and the government wants to bring a non-Marathi person as the field director. I felt this is wrong and hence recommended Thakre’s retention."

Mungantiwar asked, "How can you transfer a person who has completed only 10 months. There should be some reasons for his transfer. The PCCF has issued the orders on Thursday, but when Sinha has taken charge one-sided, why was the need felt to issue fresh orders?" However, there are many examples where forest officers were transferred but orders were changed even before joining.

The state BJP chief said, "I did my job and now it’s up to the officials and government to decide. Thakre can take a legal course." Official sources justified Thakre’s transfer. This has been done in view of the upgradation of IFS cadre soon. In the upgradation, the post of TATR field director will be upgraded to CCF. Thakre is not becoming CCF for now. In fact, he is among the six officers who will be reverted as DyCF in the new set up. So, he is not qualified to hold this post in the new set-up
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http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/nagpur/Thakre-defies-HoFF-orders-reports-sick/articleshow/6264029.cms