on july 20, 2006, the Union cabinet finally approved a bill introduced in 2005 to amend the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972. The amendment will incorporate the much-awaited recommendations made by the Tiger Task Force set up in 2005 by the prime minister. It asked for statutory and administrative powers for the Project Tiger Directorate and creation of a Wild Life Crime Control Bureau under the wildlife act.
The cabinet also approved amendments to the Right to Information Act, 2005 (see: Partial access).
In December 2005, the amendment bill was introduced in the Rajya Sabha and one of the amendments was to give statutory and administrative powers to the directorate.
At a June 2006 meeting, the National Board for Wildlife approved the setting up of the bureau (see 'Environment vs wildlife', Down To Earth, July 31, 2006). The standing committees on science and technology and environment and forests also supported the recommendations.
The proposed amendments will address conflicts arising between the provisions of the wildlife act and a bill on tribal rights that is also in the pipeline. The amendments will equip the wildlife act with provisions to constitute the bureau. Experts believe this will strengthen initiatives to protect tigers and other endangered animals.
The bureau will perform a range of functions. It will collect, collate and share (with states and other enforcement agencies) intelligence related to wildlife crime as well as establish a centralised database. Providing assistance to concerned authorities in different states and international organisations to control wildlife crime and advising the centre on wildlife crimes of national and international ramifications will be part of the bureau's job.
"The initiative is crucial as it provides a centralised hub for information, training resources, and technological and scientific support," says a wildlife expert. The bureau will also suggest changes in policies and laws. It will co-ordinate its actions, and those of state governments and other authorities to enforce the wildlife act and help enforce international conventions and protocols such as the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna.
Experts feel the bureau will be effective if it is based in the field, that is, near national parks and sanctuaries and if officials are able to gain the trust and respect of local villagers.
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