Ecologiical Protection Group

News article from ‘The hindu’ daily http://www.hindu.com/2008/03/01/stories/2008030159231400.htm

Chidambaram takes care of tigers

Aarti Dhar

NEW DELHI: The declining tiger population in the country figured in the budget proposals for 2008-09 with the government announcing a special package for the conservation of the big cats.

“The tiger is under grave threat,” Union Finance Minister P. Chidambaram said, while presenting the budget estimates in Parliament on Friday.

Mr. Chidambaram said that in order to redouble the government’s effort to protect the tiger, there was a special allocation of Rs.50 crore for the National Tiger Conservation Authority. The bulk of the grant would be used to raise a special armed Tiger Protection Force.

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Environmentalists welcome budget 2008 for allocating more money for tiger conservation. At the same time demand productive utilisation of the allocated money.

The finance minister declared that the money will be used to arm and deploy special tiger protection force. Instead of constituting newer task forces, the existing mechanisms such as empowering forest / police and such enforcement agencies is urgently in need. They should be provided with adquate skill development programs, improving legal supports such as training and services etc.

In addition to that, There is an urgent need of functional Widlife Crime control bureau.(Though it is constituted years back still it is not in fuction or the reslut is not there in reality) Programs for involving people in tiger conservation atleast in and around forest areas should find first priority. Most of the present Forest Development Agencies constituted under the Central governemnt in this regard are fully managed by bureaucrats which keep away the people from conservation efforts. Otherwise, the money set apart Rs.1707 crore for MOEF, Rs.72 crore for Project Tiger, Rs. 820 crore for forestry and wildlife Departments, Rs. 226 crore for wildlife preservation will be unproductive in result .

The Ecologiical Protection Group, Wildlife Protection Society of India and Aashrayam Rural Developemnt Society jointly requested the Hon: President of India to Protect Athirappalli waterfall and its ecosystem from the proposed Hydro-electric Power Project.

The content of the letter is given below.

The state has magaged to get sanction from the Ministry of Environemnt and Forests by producing false/manupulated data and misguiding report of public opinion.

The project area is:
1. Part of Elephant reserve 9, Elephant corridor between parambikulam wildlife sanctuary (proposed tiger
reserve) and pooyamkutty genepool area, part of Thattekkad Birdsanctuary,Idukki district.

2. Many number of Endemic and endangered species such as most endagerd Tiger, elephant, Lion tailed macaque, fish species, plants etc are found in the forest area and also the place home of 4 types of hornbills is another uniqueness.

3. The abode of Kadar tribes (ethnic tribe lives only here.) now they face relocation. no steps in this regard is started also.

4. Vana Samrakshna Ssamithi VSS (Jointly formed by Forest Department and People. So far lakhs of rupees is spent for implementing the livelyhood and improving better relation with nature and forests) is organising sathyagraha. Many organisation, individuals, join in the sathyagraha. We the undersigned organisations also joining in the Sathyagraha.

5. It is the fundamental duty of the State as well as the citizen to protect his nature, forests, wildlife, ecosystems etc. Here all these are very much threatened so protecting the remaining ecosystem shall be the first priority of our country.

  There are many ways to compensate electricity shortage: 1. minimizing the transmission loss from 40 to 15 percent (there will be surplus electricity in the state if the loss is minimised to 15%! )

3. using tide energy, promoting solar energy, etc

4. shift TO use CFL and LED lamps WILL SAVE MORE THAN WHAT the government want to produce through these mega projects.

These mega projects is mainly intended to rob public wealth and money (There were many news items which says the electricity minister of Kerala is transfering all those officers and staff who are not supporting the Project). The minister adamently told that no body can stop the project! The kerala state Biodiversity Board also opposed the project and clearly stated the volume of loss to the environemnt and biodiversity.