Shot in the dark

An effective approach to conservation must be multipronged. At the enforcement level,more intelligence-led operations,not just hastily devised deterrents,are needed. This would mean exhaustive patrolling and investigations,followed by the law taking its course in terms of speedy prosecutions and arrests. For tiger conservation,the poaching of prey species also needs to be contained. Enforcement needs to be backed by a programme that involves and engages people living in the buffer areas. But a demoralised forest department,with officials who lack the skills and the training to deal with people and enforcement,seems unequal to the task. In 2008,the Centre had announced a Special Tiger Protection Force,with a budgetary allocation of Rs 50 crore. The proposal has not been implemented in most states so far. Suggestions to bifurcate the forest department and set up a department with officials trained to deal specifically with wildlife have not taken off either. The government seems determined to remain in a state of limbo.

Deep-rooted structural deficiencies,myopic state policies and shoddy implementation of proposals have contributed to the tragedy of conservation in India. Central and state governments must set a responsible agenda for conservation,not ad-lib wildly in times of crisis.