MP inks pact with Centre for tiger conservation
Showing posts with label MP. Show all posts
Showing posts with label MP. Show all posts
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Finally MP signs Tiger conservation pact with Centre
After months of dithering and relentless pressure brought in by activists the MP govt has finally signed the tripartite agreement with centre and NTCA paving the way for direct flow of funds to tiger sanctuaries and increased accountability of reserve officials. MP was the only state left to sign the pact after all other states with tiger populations had done so. The signing happens as Rajya sabha was informed yesterday about MP being the state with highest number of tiger deaths this year stroking fears that it might loose the premier tiger state tag to Karnatka very soon. With the inking of the agreement the last hurdle for better management and conservation of parks can kick in.
Monday, November 23, 2009
MP leads in Tiger deaths as state govt refuses to bring in accountability
Jairam Ramesh, central Minister MOEF today made a statement in Rajya Sabha expressing concern at the doubling of tiger deaths in INdia to 58 as against 29 last year. Leading the list is Madhya Pradesh with 13 deaths. For months now the centre has been pushing state govt to sign the tripartite agreement with NTCA but babus and politicians in the state have been holding out fearing increased accountability and responsibility will make them more answerable for their actions. The agreement makes it mandatory for each tiger reserve to ensure compliance with wildlife laws and holds the field director responsible for any lapses. At the same time it also ensures direct and timely flow of funds to the reserves bypassingred tape ridden state govts. The agreement has already been signed by all other states with tiger reserves and with MP refusing to come on board it wouldnt be surprising if the state continues to be the leader tiger killings.
59 tiger deaths this year; MP tops chart with 13
Friday, October 23, 2009
MP set to loose tiger state status to Karnataka
With the latest tiger census set to get underway across the country over the next few months, wildlife experts believe MP thus far known as the tiger state of India owing to the highest number of striped cats in the state, might loose its premier status to Karnataka states a TOI report. With tiger numbers in MP dwindling at a fast pace and the state failing to take steps to counter the slide notably holding out on signing the tripartite agreement with centre and NTCA for free flow of funds, Karnataka seems to be taking the lead in conservation efforts despite facing its own set of problems. Estimates say MP has lost around 35 tigers in last few years to various reasons including the complete wipe out of big beasts from Panna and Sanjay National park. Similarly Kanha, Bhandhavgarh and Pench reserve have all seen tiger deaths unrelated to natural causes. What is more worrying is that officials in MP are continuing to live in a denial mode refusing to hold officials accountable for the lapses and shying away from taking the tough steps needed to curb the trend. Karnataka on the other hand has taken a lead in trying up with the centre and NTCA in putting regulation in place for increased protection of tigers and also might become the first state soon to have its own tiger protection force in Bandipur tiger reserve. The last census estimated population of tiger in MP at around 300 and Karnataka at around 290. With Karnataka taking a lead on more births and lesser deaths, the state is seen to be crossing MP after the latest census.
Karnataka could grab `big cat state' tag |
Thursday, October 22, 2009
Jairam Ramesh proposes complete mining ban in Tadoba
A report in Indian Express quotes MOEF Jairam Ramesh having written to Maharashtra CM Ashok Chavan proposing steps against mining and any other ecologically damaging activities being carried out in and around Tadoba Andhari Tiger Sanctuary. Making a significant point, the central minister is quoted as not only advising against mining in the region by Adani Power which was given mining license by the current govt but has also proposed cancelling licenses of all existing mines, a step if taken through could have immense positive impact on the forests in the region. Wildlife enthusiasts and locals concerned over the rapid deterioration of environment around Chandrapur, the district headquater will certainly welcome such a move. Ramesh has voiced his concern also on human dams being proposed in the buffer zone to provide adequate irrigation facilities to villages around the park saying the idea is out of date as it was proposed almost two decades back and the ground situation has changed considerably. The letter to the CM comes after Member secy of NTCA visited Tadoba recently in the wake of many tigers being poisoned by villagers to prevent attacks on humans and preserve their cattle. It is pertinent to note that many tiger cubs have been found abandoned around the sanctuary giving credence to suspicion of their mothers having been either poached or poisoned. Ramesh has also advised the state govt to take steps against curbing movement of poaching gangs into the wildlife sanctuary which borders MP, the home to many tribal poaching gangs.
Sunday, October 11, 2009
MP govt refuses to bring in accountability as it prepares to shift another tiger to Panna
All other states have already signed the tripartite agreement with Centre & NTCA. MP being the most critical state for tiger conservation is holding out as babus fear signing the MOU will make them more accountable something they wish to avoid. With pressure being borne by centre and environmentalists it might not be long before the state falls in line. Despite having lost all its tigers in Panna state govt officials have systematically tried to cover up the disaster and shunned all attempts to hold people accountable for the disaster. After realising the need for repopulating the park two female tigresses we shifted there recently and now a male tiger inPench has been identified to be shifted there.
MP yet to sign tripartite pact for tiger conservation
Suitable tiger found for translocated tigresses: Negi
Saturday, September 26, 2009
Orrisa asks centre for more money for Similipal as it refutes WII tiger census numbers
Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik met Central MOEF Jairam Ramesh and is reported to have requested for expediting sanctioning of funds for Similipal Tiger reserve as part of the annual plan according to Orrisadiary.com. This blog yesterday highlighted the tug of war going on between state govt and Centre appointed Tiger Conservation bodies on number of tigers inside Similipal tiger reserve. For the last couple of years WII has been indicating decline in population of big cats where as state govt has been repeatedly denying the facts. State govt officials apparently have no reason to feel accountable to either the centre or tiger conservationists as the chief minister himself has been speaking against WII numbers to avoid publicly accepting the embarrassing truth of not being able to save the national animal from slaughter. Similar denials in Panna over the last few years ensured the disappearance of tigers from the reserve and orrisa seems to be following in the footsteps of MP govt.
Orissa asks centre to approve forest clearance for irrigation project
Friday, September 25, 2009
Orrisa refuses to trust WII tiger count for Similipal - Orders another one
Despite two surveys by credible organisations over as many years pointing out to decline in tiger numbers in Similipal Tiger reserve, state govt of Orrisa refuses to believe the news. After the 2007 tiger census pointed out low tiger density, Chief minister Navin Patnaik himself had questioned the validity of the numbers. Now after another count conducted by WII recently found tiger population to have fallen to just 41, down from almost 100, the chief wildlife officer taking a cue from his boss has questioned the figures again. Similipal has been in news recently due to maoist problems and local mafia along with villagers having taken over the park. In fact chief minister Navin Patnaik himself had asked the centre to deploy CRPF to protect the park from being raided by poaching gangs. Now that a credible nodal body has laid bare the facts, the least state govt can do is get out of its denial mode. Our readers would remember similar denials issued by park directors of Panna in MP doomed the tigers there. One hopes a similar story is not unfolding in Similipal. The centre should push Orrisa govt to sign the tripartite agreement which will put an end to such blatant attempts at cover ups.
Orissa to recount Tigers in Similipal Tiger Reserv
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Male Tiger to be relocated to Panna
After two tigresses were shifted to Panna Tiger Reserve early this year a male tiger is to set to arrive to give them company. According to a PTI report, WII scientists are in search of a suitable companion from Bandhavgarh national park. Panna reserve which was estimated to have around 35 tigers a few years ago was declared having lost all its striped cats earlier. One solitary male tiger was sighted earlier this year which too was apparently killed by poachers. Panna has been a disaster of enormous proportions for wildlife in India with the park authorities continuously turning a blind eye to warning signs of poaching inside the park over the years. In fact as late as last year the park director had claimed that tigers were safe and the park had a healthy population. Shifting of tigers from other reserves is important to repopulate the park but unless the reserves are made more secure and reasons for earlier loss of tigers are identified with long term solutions in place and accountability fixed, there is no guarantee of repeats not happening. MP govt is also yet to sign the tripartite agreement with the centre and NTCA. Perhaps it is time for them to put political differences aside and work towards contributing to a national cause.
Hunt for suitable male companion for Panna tigresses
Monday, September 21, 2009
MP govt holding out on signing binding agreement to make its officials more accountable
Despite being in the limelight for being the state with the largest area under tiger reserves, MP govt rather than leading by example is telling us what exactly afflicts wildlife conservation in India. Official apathy, lack of accountability and protecting own turf at the expense of public good are some of the reasons why despite immense media and public pressure there has been little improvement in widlife conservation.
The centre has signed the new tripartite agreement with many other states. As we have posted earlier, the agreement makes flow of funds easier to the parks bypasssing the state wildlife ministries which are mostly corrupt and inept and are the biggestobstacles in money reaching genuine beneficiaries. The agreement alsomakes forest directors directly liable for penal action for the condition of the reserve. As we have seen in MP itself the director of Panna national park publicly claimed till last year that the park had a healthy population of tigers. After it was declared in march this year that alltigers had been killed the field director was actually promoted to the ministry of forest. Such officials need to be charged wtih criminal conspiracy and neglect so that they take their job seriously.
MP govt babus need to realise that tiger conservation is a matter of India's prestige and not about protecting state's turf over the matter. Since so many other states have willingly signed on the dotted line there should be no reason for further delay.
Madhya Pradesh opposes mooted MOU on tiger conservation
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