Tiger cell rendered clawless

NEW DELHI, May 2: 1994 - Responding, rather belatedly, to the indiscriminate poaching of tigers all over the country, the Union Environment ...

NEW DELHI, May 2: 1994 8211; Responding, rather belatedly, to the indiscriminate poaching of tigers all over the country, the Union Environment Ministry sets up a Tiger Crisis Cell TCC. 1997- In January, three days after being appointed a member of TCC, Navin M Rajeja shoots detailed questionnaire on the status of tigers to the authorities in all 23 sanctuaries and national parks covered under the Project Tiger8230;till date, however, heads of only seven parks have bothered to send their replies to the TCC.

Raheja, on being appointed the TCC member, was assured of at least one meeting every month of the various members to catch up with the latest developments on the tiger front and suggest ways and means of preventing its extinction8230;so far not a single meeting of the Crisis Cell members has been held. It was under these pressing circumstances that Raheja approached the Supreme Court for a redressal. His petition, going by the Supreme Court8217;s response last fortnight 8212; it has issued notices to the chiefsecretaries of 24 states, beside the Environment Ministry may turn out to be one of the few last desperate attempts being made to stop the tiger8217;s extinction by the turn of the century.

It is also for the first time that the apex court has been approached to judge the picture in totality. But as Raheja says, time is running out for the tiger and the Supreme Court may be the last resort to prevent its doom.

The detailed annexures attached with the petition, consisting mainly of documents obtained from a few sanctuaries and national parks, paint a gloomy picture indeed. While in most states, poisoning, bullets and traps have taken the toll on tiger population, in others terrorist groups have lent a helping hand. The field director of Manas National Park in Assam, for instance, is candid enough to admit that 8220;No tiger census was carried out subsequent to 1988 and before 1993, due to serious ethnic disturbances and law and order problems.8221;

In Bandhavgarh National Park, the situation has reachedalarming proportions. According to its field director R C Sharma8217;s own admission, 8220;The lower staff, that is the forest guards and foresters, are all locals and are either mixed up with local poachers or are under threat from them. So, though it is almost impossible, a total change at that level with staff from outside may change the situation and have lasting effect.

Though feeling a bit helpless, Sharma has suggested a radical scheme to TRC to handle the poaching mafia. 8220;All the highest security areas and installations,8221; he says, 8220;are protected by armed guards who are empowered to shoot if the intruder fails to give the right identity and reason for being there. If such provisions are made in our handful national parks and sanctuaries, they can be definitely protected, and so can be tiger.8221;

Urging for a writ of mandamus calling upon the central and state Governments to revamp the law by plugging the loopholes and making it more stringent for tiger poaching cases, the petition tells the court that8220;no single person or NGO is capable of saving the tiger from extinction. The Government is lacking the will, the proper direction and, the commitment and the initiative, in this direction8230;the central and state Governments are extremely insensitive and unconcerned.8221;

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According to a plan submitted by the petitioner before the Environment Ministries:

Incentives and rewards should be given to the forest staff.

Intelligence network should be created through active support of the Home Ministry.

Law should be made stringent; there should be provision for heavy spot penalties and deterrent sentences and

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Peripheral areas around parks and sanctuaries should be developed on priority, so that villagers need not look at the forests as source of their livelihood.