TNN | Apr 11, 2012, 04.01AM IST
Waking up to gross violation of the Wildlife (Protection) Act 1972 and orders of the Supreme Court, minister for forest and environment Bina Kak on Monday ordered an immediate halt on the construction of annicuts with the use of earth-moving machinery inside the Sariska Tiger Reserve.
The forest department had embarked on a project of constructing 28 annicuts inside the reserve for providing water to animals there specially during summer. However, what the authorities seem to have missed is clearly laid laws for such work. Not only was heavy machinery deployed for construction work but the work was in complete disregard of the wildlife, specially tigers, inside the reserve.
When the matter was brought to the minister's notice she took it up on an urgent basis and showing her concern for wildlife halted all construction work.
According to Bina Kak, "To provide water to wildlife in Sariska Tiger Reserve the forest department had embarked on a project of 28 water harvesting structures approved at a cost of Rs 1,146.07 lakh. In May, 2009, NABARD sanctioned the project for the construction of 28 water harvesting structures with financial assistance of Rs 1,088.77 lakh and the state's share in it was Rs 57.30 lakh. The construction of water harvesting structures was started by water resource department in June 2010."
She added, "About 22 water harvesting structures are under progress out of which 15 are likely to be completed in April 2012. But after it was brought to my notice I called the officers concerned here. Keeping in view the disturbance it caused to the wildlife we have decided to curtail construction work at Nangalhedi, Thadthadi (Alokenath), Shreedhar, Nala, Chawkiwala Johda, Adhirunjhadi (baghera audhi) and Cheeldi. During construction of ongoing water harvesting structures efforts will be made to cause minimum disturbance to the wildlife."
"Out of 28 sanctioned annicuts 15 are almost complete, seven others are nearing completion and should be ready before the monsoon sets in. Funds have already been utilized and for the rest six we have stopped the work,'' she said.
However, the Central Empowered Committee (CEC) has also taken a note of the construction work and has shot a letter in this regards to chief secretary C S Mathew. In its letter the CEC has ordered to immediately stop the work that may cause disturbance to wildlife there.
The CEC's intervention came after a representation by Dharmendra Khandal, field biologist, Tiger Watch dated April 9. Khandal in his representation had sought the CEC's intervention into the construction activities inside the Sariska reserve. The CEC in its letter to the chief secretary has asked the state government to conduct a thorough enquiry in the matter and reply to it.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/jaipur/Kak-orders-authorities-to-stop-construction-work-at-Sariska/articleshow/12617077.cms
Waking up to gross violation of the Wildlife (Protection) Act 1972 and orders of the Supreme Court, minister for forest and environment Bina Kak on Monday ordered an immediate halt on the construction of annicuts with the use of earth-moving machinery inside the Sariska Tiger Reserve.
The forest department had embarked on a project of constructing 28 annicuts inside the reserve for providing water to animals there specially during summer. However, what the authorities seem to have missed is clearly laid laws for such work. Not only was heavy machinery deployed for construction work but the work was in complete disregard of the wildlife, specially tigers, inside the reserve.
When the matter was brought to the minister's notice she took it up on an urgent basis and showing her concern for wildlife halted all construction work.
According to Bina Kak, "To provide water to wildlife in Sariska Tiger Reserve the forest department had embarked on a project of 28 water harvesting structures approved at a cost of Rs 1,146.07 lakh. In May, 2009, NABARD sanctioned the project for the construction of 28 water harvesting structures with financial assistance of Rs 1,088.77 lakh and the state's share in it was Rs 57.30 lakh. The construction of water harvesting structures was started by water resource department in June 2010."
She added, "About 22 water harvesting structures are under progress out of which 15 are likely to be completed in April 2012. But after it was brought to my notice I called the officers concerned here. Keeping in view the disturbance it caused to the wildlife we have decided to curtail construction work at Nangalhedi, Thadthadi (Alokenath), Shreedhar, Nala, Chawkiwala Johda, Adhirunjhadi (baghera audhi) and Cheeldi. During construction of ongoing water harvesting structures efforts will be made to cause minimum disturbance to the wildlife."
"Out of 28 sanctioned annicuts 15 are almost complete, seven others are nearing completion and should be ready before the monsoon sets in. Funds have already been utilized and for the rest six we have stopped the work,'' she said.
However, the Central Empowered Committee (CEC) has also taken a note of the construction work and has shot a letter in this regards to chief secretary C S Mathew. In its letter the CEC has ordered to immediately stop the work that may cause disturbance to wildlife there.
The CEC's intervention came after a representation by Dharmendra Khandal, field biologist, Tiger Watch dated April 9. Khandal in his representation had sought the CEC's intervention into the construction activities inside the Sariska reserve. The CEC in its letter to the chief secretary has asked the state government to conduct a thorough enquiry in the matter and reply to it.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/jaipur/Kak-orders-authorities-to-stop-construction-work-at-Sariska/articleshow/12617077.cms
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