‘You may like to make sure that PIL does not succeed’

MADHYA Pradesh’s forest department seems to share a cosy relationship with resort owners and tour operators. On September 14, H S Pabla, chief wildlife warden of the state, wrote an e-mail: “A Public Interest Litigation (PIL) seeking a ban on tourism in core areas of Madhya Pradesh’s national tiger reserves has been filed in the state High Court. Though the state will oppose this, you may like to file as affected parties to make sure that PIL does not succeed...Kindly take appropriate steps.”

Endangered in Sariska

THE DEATH of a tiger last month, two and a half years after it was brought to Sariska, proves the National Tiger Reserve in Rajasthan is not safe for the big cat. The death also brought to light little action has been taken on the recommendations of the Tiger Task Force, set up in 2005 to look at tiger conservation in the country. That was the year when Sariska lost all its tigers.

In the name of the tiger

The struggle to protect the rapidly vanishing tiger is getting murkier by the day. Up to 100,000 families are slated for displacement, ostensibly to secure India’s tiger habitats. Unfortunately, most of the relocation taking place violates the law and may end up creating more conflicts that cause the tiger’s decline.

Green light to buffer zones

The Indian government has given its nod for creating buffer zones around Pench and Melghat tiger reserves in Maharashtra. The Pench tiger reserve in Nagpur district, which has a core area of 275 sq km has been equipped with a 500 km buffer zone. While the Melghat tiger reserve which has a total area of 2,300 sq km has been granted 1,268 km buffer zone.

Letters

For tiger’s sake

Vedanta and lessons in conservation

The Forest Rights Act of 2006—also known as the Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act—came after considerable and bitter opposition from conservation groups.

Relocate sensibly

The creation of inviolate areas in protected forests has been a key concern of conservation for decades. It assumes the only way to conserve "critical" areas is to relocate people who live in these forests. In theory, such people are moved and provided higher living standards while the inviolate area remains pristine.

A forest guard’s life is tough

Tangru Miji lives on the border of Pakke Tiger Reserve in Arunachal Pradesh. He used to be a skilled hunter until the park authorities recently convinced him to be a part of their anti-poaching efforts in the reserve.

Letters

Farmers’ fundamental right We must have the right to decide whether we want to eat Bt brinjal (‘Don’t make a mash of it’, February 16-28, 2010). Similarly, farmers should also have the right to decide what food to grow since they will be affected the most. Why just Bt brinjal, farmers will be affected adversely by any genetically modified (GM) crop. Such crops will steal their freedom of choosing seeds.

The seven-second meet

I have often been to the Sunderbans islands on assignments. Despite obsessing over seeing a tiger on each trip, I have never really had the opportunity. Imagine my excitement when the forest department of West Bengal, seeking volunteers for the tiger census 2010, wrote to the non-profit I work for.