The trade in tiger skins and derivatives will not stop until the Indian government puts wildlife crime high up on the agenda and the punishment for such crime considerably more that just 10,000 IRS which is equivalent to meager sum of just 145 GBP-not much for the poachers to pay when the rewards for tiger parts are sky high. In addition just 3 years for taking the lives of these magnificent animals is no real deterrent.
Anew Draft Wild Life (Protection) Amendment Bill is produced in June 2010.
In continuation of its efforts to strengthen wild life protection in India, the MoEF has prepared a Draft Wildlife (Protection) Amendment Bill 2010. This Bill, which is the product of extensive consultations with a wide spectrum of stakeholders, is intended to greatly strengthen the existing provisions for penalties, traps, criminal procedure etc. Comments on the Draft Bill are invited.
All comments may be mailed to wpa.amendmentbill@gmail.com by 7th of July 2010.
Sunday, June 27
Saturday, June 26
Rising India- Challenges of troubled neighborhood.
History was created in Srinagar on June 23rd 2010-Syama Prasad Mookerjee Martyrdom day was observed in Kashmir for the first time
Strong India alone can face neighbours' challenges-Gen. V.P.Malik, former army chief.
Muslims need reforms from within-India secular because of Hindu majority-M.J.Akbar, eminent editor
Youth power can bring glory and strength to India-Prof. Riyaz Punjabi, vice chancellor, Kashmir University
A history was created at Srinagar when Dr. Syama Prasad Mookerjee' who had attained martyrdom in a Srinagar jail on June 23rd 1953 for demanding complete merger of Kashmire with rest of India,was remembered by a selected intellectual elite in Srinagar in a national seminar dedicated to his memory.
The seminar was on the theme -Rising India-Challenges of a troubled neighbourhood.It was inaugurated by former army chief Gen.V.P.Malik. Eminent editor M.J.Akbar, Prof. Riyaz Punjabi, vice chancellor, Kashmir University, Ambassador TCA Rangachari,Lt. Gen. Aditya Singh ,Maj. Gen Vinod Saighal were distinguished participants. A galaxy of leaders from various walks of life in Srinagar, faculty and students from Kashmir University and Islamic University, intellectuals and officers attended the seminar.
The programme began with lighting of the lamp before the pictures of Bharat Mata and Dr. Syama Prasad Mookerjee by all dignitaries and singing of the national anthem. It was pointed out by the local participants that even the national anthem was sung perhaps for the first time after many years in any public function in Srinagar.
Shri Bal Apte President of Dr. Syama Prasad Research Foundation welcomed the guests and expressed satisfaction on having the day observe in Srinagar. Shri Tarun Vijay , Director gave a vivid introuction to Dr. Mookerjee's illustrious life and underlined the significance of the day being observed in Srinagar.
Gen. Ved Malik said that challenges of China and Pakistan can be met with a strong India-which is strong economically, socially and militarily.
M.J.Akbar spell bound the audience with his sharp remarks and said that India cant be said to be rising unless Muslims also get into the mainstream of progress. He said like Hindus had reforms from within, Muslims must also change for a better social dynamics. He said that India is secular not because of the fifteen percent Muslim minority but because of the Hindu majority.He also said that Muslim women's progress alone can define Islam's progressive face.He said that Koran says 'to each his own' meaning freedom of thought.
Prof. Riyaz Punjabi, vice chancellor of Kashmir University welcomed the idea of such a high level seminar in Srinagar and said that only youth can take India ahead with a secular, non-sectarian vision and modern outlook.
Lt. Gen Aitya Singh and Maj. Gen. Vinod Saighal spoke about creating awareness regarding challenges from China and Pakistan and asked to create an awareness about China amongst people. Ambassador Rangachari gave descriptive details of the present status of India-China relations and underlined the need to learn Chinese and get acquainted with the latest Chinese affairs creating an atmosphere of mutual trust.
The programme has been hailed as a milestone in creating bridges and removing fear psychosis regarding Kashmir.
Amongst those luminaries who attended the seminar were Shri Ashok Bhatt, speaker Gujarat assembly, Shri K.G. Bopiah Speaker Karnataka Assembly, Shri Ram Lal, all India Gen. Secy. (Organisation) BJP,Shri Shamsher Singh Manhas , President J&K state BJP,Shri Sufi Yusuf vice president J&K, BJP, Shri Chandra Prakash Ganga, vice president J&K, BJP, Shri Jugal Kishore , BJP, MLA, Shri Manohar Lal , Org. Secy, North zone BJP,Shri Ramesh Arora, State BJP spokesperson, large number of students and teachers. Dr. Harsh Vardhan, Secretary of the Foundation and Shri Arun Singh, trustee welcomed the guests.
What i saw was an attempt to regain the political goodwill the party’s legendary leader and former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee had cultivated through his widely hailed pacifist moves including the historical olive branch he had extended to Pakistan few years after Kargil crisis.
Strong India alone can face neighbours' challenges-Gen. V.P.Malik, former army chief.
Muslims need reforms from within-India secular because of Hindu majority-M.J.Akbar, eminent editor
Youth power can bring glory and strength to India-Prof. Riyaz Punjabi, vice chancellor, Kashmir University
A history was created at Srinagar when Dr. Syama Prasad Mookerjee' who had attained martyrdom in a Srinagar jail on June 23rd 1953 for demanding complete merger of Kashmire with rest of India,was remembered by a selected intellectual elite in Srinagar in a national seminar dedicated to his memory.
The seminar was on the theme -Rising India-Challenges of a troubled neighbourhood.It was inaugurated by former army chief Gen.V.P.Malik. Eminent editor M.J.Akbar, Prof. Riyaz Punjabi, vice chancellor, Kashmir University, Ambassador TCA Rangachari,Lt. Gen. Aditya Singh ,Maj. Gen Vinod Saighal were distinguished participants. A galaxy of leaders from various walks of life in Srinagar, faculty and students from Kashmir University and Islamic University, intellectuals and officers attended the seminar.
The programme began with lighting of the lamp before the pictures of Bharat Mata and Dr. Syama Prasad Mookerjee by all dignitaries and singing of the national anthem. It was pointed out by the local participants that even the national anthem was sung perhaps for the first time after many years in any public function in Srinagar.
Shri Bal Apte President of Dr. Syama Prasad Research Foundation welcomed the guests and expressed satisfaction on having the day observe in Srinagar. Shri Tarun Vijay , Director gave a vivid introuction to Dr. Mookerjee's illustrious life and underlined the significance of the day being observed in Srinagar.
Gen. Ved Malik said that challenges of China and Pakistan can be met with a strong India-which is strong economically, socially and militarily.
M.J.Akbar spell bound the audience with his sharp remarks and said that India cant be said to be rising unless Muslims also get into the mainstream of progress. He said like Hindus had reforms from within, Muslims must also change for a better social dynamics. He said that India is secular not because of the fifteen percent Muslim minority but because of the Hindu majority.He also said that Muslim women's progress alone can define Islam's progressive face.He said that Koran says 'to each his own' meaning freedom of thought.
Prof. Riyaz Punjabi, vice chancellor of Kashmir University welcomed the idea of such a high level seminar in Srinagar and said that only youth can take India ahead with a secular, non-sectarian vision and modern outlook.
Lt. Gen Aitya Singh and Maj. Gen. Vinod Saighal spoke about creating awareness regarding challenges from China and Pakistan and asked to create an awareness about China amongst people. Ambassador Rangachari gave descriptive details of the present status of India-China relations and underlined the need to learn Chinese and get acquainted with the latest Chinese affairs creating an atmosphere of mutual trust.
The programme has been hailed as a milestone in creating bridges and removing fear psychosis regarding Kashmir.
Amongst those luminaries who attended the seminar were Shri Ashok Bhatt, speaker Gujarat assembly, Shri K.G. Bopiah Speaker Karnataka Assembly, Shri Ram Lal, all India Gen. Secy. (Organisation) BJP,Shri Shamsher Singh Manhas , President J&K state BJP,Shri Sufi Yusuf vice president J&K, BJP, Shri Chandra Prakash Ganga, vice president J&K, BJP, Shri Jugal Kishore , BJP, MLA, Shri Manohar Lal , Org. Secy, North zone BJP,Shri Ramesh Arora, State BJP spokesperson, large number of students and teachers. Dr. Harsh Vardhan, Secretary of the Foundation and Shri Arun Singh, trustee welcomed the guests.
What i saw was an attempt to regain the political goodwill the party’s legendary leader and former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee had cultivated through his widely hailed pacifist moves including the historical olive branch he had extended to Pakistan few years after Kargil crisis.
Sunday, June 13
Why do you think Dow Chemicals should be banned in India?
Union Carbide India Ltd, that got away with murder in the Bhopal gas disaster, is now owned by Dow Chemicals.
Isn't this enough a reason to ban this Firm in India.??
Please share your comments and share the note with as many friends you can and add and correct the facts aswell.
There is no preparedness for meeting a disaster in the wake of an accident. On the other hand, these factories are routinely spreading pollution with impunity.. Center is attempting to minimize its responsibility towards protecting lives of citizens by introducing the Civil Nuclear Liability Bill.
(UCC - United Carbide Corporation)
1.UCC was a US company .
2.UCC established UCIL in India .
3.UCC had a 50.9 % stake in UCIL at the time of disaster
4.UCC and UCIL gave India damages of $470 Million for the disaster.
5.UCC sold off completely their stake in UCIL to MacLeod which is now Eveready.
6.Dow Chemicals bought UCC
December 3, 1984
At the time the plant was owned by Union Carbide India,
Ltd. (UCIL), an Indian company whose majority (50.9%) shareholder
was Danbury-based Union Carbide Corporation (UCC) which was
acquired by Dow Chemical in 2001.
===============================
By December 1984 the Union Carbide plant in Bhopal India had been cited for safety violations, failure of monitoring systems, leaks of MIC into the community, and an explosion and fatality.
=============================
In 2001 the UCC was tken in control by The Dow Chemical Company claiming acquiring without LIABILITIES of UCC and refused surrender Carbide for trial. As a result of the sale of its shares in UCIL, Union Carbide retained no interest in - or liability for - the Bhopal site, the firm says in a statement.
Its 51% stake in the subsidiary was sold after the accident.
==============================
Not only this Dow gone on with law suits on protestors who besieged its offices in India, shouting, “Dow, you now have Union Carbides blood on your handsâ€. Dow claimed $10,000 in compensation for alleged loss of work resulting from the demonstrations.
==============================
The CBIs 2002 attempt at dilution of charges was of a piece with Mr. Sorabjee 2001 advice to the government against seeking Mr. Andersons extradition.Attorney-General Soli Sorabjee backtracked on his advice on extradition, giving one opinion in 2001, and later saying that extradition would not be possible. However, with the Bhopal magistrate standing firm, the CBI was left with no option but to request the Ministry of External Affairs to seek Mr. Andersons extradition, which the MEA did, obviously reluctantly, in May 2003.
============================
Warren Anderson, former chairman of the American parent company Union Carbide Corp responsible for the 1984 Bhopal gas tragedy, was released after being arrested on December 7 that year on the Central government’s orders to Madhya Pradesh.
=============================
This fact about the gas tragedy has emerged from declassified CIA documents dated 8 December 1984: a day after Anderson left India and five days after the deadly methyl isocyanate (MIC) gas leaked from Union Carbide’s Bhopal plant.
==============================
In July 2004, the U.S. government rejected the Indian request. It stated that the request did not meet the requirements of Article 2(1) and 9 (3) of the extradition treaty between the U.S. and India.
==========================
On July 22, 2009, the CJM’s court in Bhopal issued a fresh warrant of arrest against Mr. Anderson, and ordered the CBI to produce him before the court for trial.
=============================
I was witness to Mr Jairam ramesh remark in Sept 2009 (minister for Forest and Environment ).Holding up a fistful of mud from the premises, he said, look here, I am not affected. Although later he apologized for this shocking crudity as people like us apposed. None of the reporters reacted as expected although he called and apologized.
Generations of victims exposed to MIC have been indiscriminately prescribed antibiotics, steroids and psychotropic drugs to ‘manage’ their ailments instead of finding a cure. till date no research has been done deliberately. The study was terminated in 1994 and its findings were not made public. No research has been conducted since and lakhs of people who continue to suffer from MIC exposure only receive symptomatic treatment.
==================================
1985 Feb
Interim Relief
Union Carbide establishes a fund for victims of the tragedy-- the (UCC) Employees' Bhopal Relief Fund --that collects more than $120,000.
UCC sends more medical equipment to Bhopal.
1985 Apr
Union Carbide Offers $7 Million Interim Relief
UCC offers $5 million in relief for victims before the U.S. District Court, bringing the total to date to $7 million.
Government of India Rejects Union Carbide Relief
Government of India rejects UCC offers of aid for Bhopal victims.
===============================
1987 Jan
U.S. Court of Appeals Affirms Transfer of Litigation to India
The court rules that UCIL is a separate entity, owned, managed and operated exclusively by Indian citizens in India.
===============================
1989 Feb
Final Settlement at $470 Million
The Supreme Court of India directs a final settlement of all Bhopal litigation in the amount of $470 million, to be paid by March 31, 1989. Both the Government of India and Union Carbide accept the court's direction. UCC pays $420 million; UCIL pays the rupee equivalent of $50 million (including $5 million of interim relief previously paid).
===============================
Union Carbide Makes Full Payment
Within 10 days of the order, UCC and UCIL make full payment of the $470 million to the Government of India.
================================
1989 May
Supreme Court of India Renders Opinion
The Supreme Court, in a lengthy opinion, explains the rationale for the settlement and emphasizes that the compensation levels provided for in the settlement are substantially higher than those ordinarily payable under Indian law.
==============================
1994
Sale of Union Carbide's 50.9% interest in Union Carbide India Limited to McLeod Russel is completed.
1999 On August 4th, Union Carbide and The Dow Chemical Company announce that their boards of directors have approved an $11.6 billion transaction which would result in Union Carbide becoming a wholly owned subsidiary of The Dow Chemical Company.
=============================
2001 On February 6th, Union Carbide Corporation became a wholly owned subsidiary of The Dow Chemical Company.
===============================
Anderson was charged with culpable homicide not amounting to murder, grievous assault and killing and poisoning human beings and animals. A Bhopal trial court on Monday convicted eight Indian officials of Union Carbide for their criminal negligence that triggered the world's worst industrial disaster, but Anderson was not mentioned in the judgment.
If US is really interest in this case let them to find out Anderson and handover him to Indian Govt if he is alive...
The disaster happened in Bhopal was not a terrorist attack..It was unintentional accident..Criminal negligences were there..Nobody denies it..
Same time, since it was not a pre-planed crime,then what is the use of of scrutinizing that after 25 years...Why didn't the media expose this issues earlier..? Why did the Media wait for the Lethargic 25 years old verdict ?
The credibility of Congress and its vote-bank politics is well known !
The waste left behind at the Union Carbide India Limited (UCIL) factory that was closed 25 years ago after a fatal gas leak continues to poison people around that area and Politics is being played at the expense of the victims. Real justice has been elusive despite substantial evidence of political corporate cover-ups and criminal negligence.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh directed the recently reconstituted Group of Ministers (GoM) on Bhopal to complete its deliberations and report to the Cabinet within 10 days. The GOM is headed by Home Minister P. Chidambaram, to take stock of the situation arising out of the recent court judgment and assess the options and remedies available to the government on the various issues involved” and report back to the Cabinet within 10 days.
And today we stand to witness the criminal not being punished even after 25 years. But for many in Bhopal, for us the disaster is not just a moment in history to be remembered on anniversaries. It is an ever-present part of our daily life. The generations are affected - physically, financially, and emotionally.
The babies born on that day were name Zahar lal and Gas Devi who have turned 25 years old.
http://letzchangedrulz-miracles.blogspot.com/2009/12/bhopal-gas-tragedy-continues-unabated.html
Friends are you aware? Union Carbide India Ltd, that got away with murder in the Bhopal gas disaster, is now owned by Dow Chemicals. The same company is involved in the proposed chemical hub at Nayachar in West Bengal.
We seem to have taken no learning from the Bhopal tragedy and are set to repeat the mistakes by allowing the burden to be shifted on taxpayers who end up subsiding private corporations.
Centre is just attempting to minimize its responsibility towards protecting lives of citizens by introducing the Civil Nuclear Liability Bill.
Wake Up!
We seem to have taken no learning from the Bhopal tragedy and are set to repeat the mistakes by allowing the burden to be shifted on taxpayers who end up subsiding private corporations.
Centre is just attempting to minimize its responsibility towards protecting lives of citizens by introducing the Civil Nuclear Liability Bill.
Wake Up!
Sunday, June 6
Kanha National Park.
Again a bad News from Madhya Pradesh. A 45 day old cub has died in Kanha National Park.
Th female tiger cub was found dead on Sunday in Sondar area of Kanha Tiger Reserve in eastern Madhya Pradesh.
After a forest guard experienced a foul smell from the forest area, he searched and found the dead cub, possibly 22 days old in the Kisli range of the Reserve, the Park Officiating Field Director A K Nagar said.
He said that a cut has been found near the stomach of the cub, adding that it appears that some carnivorous might had killed it yesterday.
Saturday, June 5
Who is responsible for the vanishing of Panna Genes from the face of the earth?
To,
Mr. Jairam Ramesh
Minister of State (Independent Charge)
Ministry of Environment and Forests
Sub- Dr H.S Pabla appointment in Madhya Pradesh as the Principal Chief Conservator (Wildlife) Madhya Pradesh.
Dear Sir,
5th June 2010 will always be remembered as a black day in the history of India. The Person who has been named as the offender in the Panna Committee report headed by Mr. P K Sen is being promoted, supported and guarded in Madhya Pradesh. He is responsible for the vanishing of Panna genes in the world!
I would like to take you back to the year 2001.
From 2001 April to March 2009 different Field Directors have given priority to different things forgetting the basics of management of tiger reserve that security was the most important item as Panna Tiger Reserve is surrounded by large number of villages indulging in poaching.
Rampant poaching and total “denial for the past eight years†have led to the extinction of tigers in Panna .â€Central investigation has revealedâ€. The state government Headed by Dr H S Pabla denied any crisis even as tigers were regularly being poached for eight years between 2002 and 2009, an extensive report prepared by a Special Investigative Team (SIT) set up by the Ministry of Environment and Forests also found out.
The SIT was constituted to investigate the extinction of tigers from Panna which till 2007 held at least 24 tigers.
The SERIES of warnings by the Ministry of Environment and Forests, the Wildlife Institute of India (WII), independent scientists , activists and NGOs were deliberately ignored between 2002 and 2008 as Madhya Pradesh concentrated on ‘tourism and welfare’ and senior officials looked the other way, says the report.
It was Dr HS Pabla who sent a letter for making Hunting as legal!
A string of warnings, given by the Ministry of Environment and Forests, the Wildlife Institute of India (WII), independent scientists and NGOs were ignored between 2002 and 2008 as Madhya Pradesh concentrated on ‘tourism and welfare’ and senior officials looked the other way, says the report.
The report says that the team felt that Panna was a very special case because the management received so many cautions and warning letters from different agencies. It has been observed by the team that Government of Madhya Pradesh was always in a denial mode that there was crisis in Panna. Dr H S Pabla having vested interests never agreed to what experst said about the shrinking population of the tigers in Panna..
“The advisories/guidelines and red alerts on protection and monitoring protocols issued by the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA), time and again, were not followed in action and spirit. Even newspaper warnings were ignored,†it says. The Indian Express had reported in March this year that there were no tigers left in Panna, which the MP Forest Department denied.
You will be surprised to know that the team said that ‘intelligence-gathering was never important’ for Panna tiger reserve and the failure was from the highest level. For the investigation, field directors between 2002 and 2009 were questioned and MP police poaching records were accessed. For the same period, the report says, “Senior officers of the rank of PCCF and Chief Wildlife Warden and Additional PCCF Wildlife visited the reserve number of times. Nowhere in their tour report has it been mentioned that the reserve was facing problems which could be a cause of disappearance of tiger. The Principal Secretary Forest was least concerned about tigers in the reserve. The entire department in Bhopal was busy corresponding with scientists, individuals, NGOs and even members of the CEC denying facts even without verification. Mr. Avni Vaisha, Dr H S Pabla and Mr. Bandopadhya today are enjoying the patronage of the Government on the expense of tax payers money.
This is a situation much worse than Sariska,†P K Sen, former Director, Project Tiger and a member of the team mentioned to media. In Sariska, the tigers were lost mostly over one year. The Panna crisis is unprecedented as the negligence went on for eight whole years. In 2001, tiger scientist Raghu Chundawat said that a tiger he had collared was suddenly gone. His plea was dismissed by the state. Infact the whole administration went campaigning against him and his founding although the truth is out now. MP has perfected the art of denial since a decade. If the state could not handle the reserve, the department should have acknowledged this. The way forward is simple. Unless you admit there is a problem, you can’t find the solution. Bu the insensinsitive babuls were not bothered and the Politicians knew the Tigers do not vote.
The other members of the team were: Qamar Qureshi, Scientist, Wildlife Institute of India, Chaturbhuja Behera, Regional Deputy Director, Jabalupur, Wildlife Crime Control Bureau, and S. P. Yadav, DIG, National Tiger Conservation Authority (Member Convener).
Its is National shame and disgrace ! It is worst than Sariska Episode. It is tragic and painful to read everyday negative stories about world's largest cats tigers in Indian forests. Tigers are not safe in So-called protected areas. Hang all the corrupted forest officials and Poachers. They are anti-nationals. They are killing Indian tigers for Chinese medicine. Hang them all !
The sorry state of shrinking numbers of tigers in India shows apathy of Indian government which cannot protect citizens leave alone tigers.If we want to protect our tigers let's give all the remaining tigers to poor African countries or Iran who, though are poor have the means and will to protect this magnificent and handsome species. Also don't forget to cancel name of tiger as the national animal of India as we are shamefully and disgustingly incapable of protecting the sanctity of their habitat.
Totally wastage of tax payers money, we punish, a employee, of pvt. cos., because of his inefficiency, who will punish these corrupted govt. officials, bring criminal charges against them for being a traitor, they are more dangerous than terrorists, who are like termites preying on nations resources, even their pensions should also not be paid, either govt. should privatize this, or dissolve the whole wild life projects, and stop wasting govt. funds.
What has happened has happened. There is however no mention of who were the poachers. Both the poachers and the senior officers who sem to have shielded them should be caught and brought to book. I think the centre should take this matter very seriously and use intelligence agencies to identify the network of those trading in tiger skins etc. Some big names would be involved I am sure but the Minister of Environment and Forests should be strong enough to pursue this caes to the end. Its high time now.
Details for your perusal.
Central Empowered Committee.
When the situation started getting out of hand, they scurried into action and relocated two female tigers to Panna.
The Tiger Study which says-
Panna Tiger Reserve comprises Dry Tropical Forest, which is the largest tiger habitat in India. Unfortunately it is in this habitat that tigers are most vulnerable and are disappearing at a much faster rate than in any other habitats.
The Tiger Research Project in the Panna Tiger Reserve, undertaken by Dr. R.S. Chundawat, was the only study on the ecology of tiger in a Dry Tropical Forest.
The Tiger Research Project is still the only long-term study on tigers in three decades of tiger conservation history of India.
The research in Panna Tiger Reserve was started as a Wildlife Institute of India project in October 1995 and later continued independently with Government approval and all the required permissions.
R S Chundawat
A responsive management: Early lessons
The first tiger was radio-collared in April 1996 – a female who died in the monsoon of the same year. Her dead body was recovered near a cattle kill.
This alerted management to the possibility of poisoning and they took necessary action. Since then every cattle kill was immediately investigated.
Elephants were regularly provided to the research team to locate and monitor radio collared tigers. Every kill was located and monitored with the help of the elephant. Management also assisted the research team in monitoring some of the key areas outside the park that were frequently visited by the tigers.
Early in the study (1996), a very low density of 2-3 tigers/100 km2 was estimated for the core area.
In 2002 the estimation of tiger population by using camera traps, documented one of the finest recoveries of a tiger population in recent history. It estimated a density of almost 7 tigers/100 km2. This was mainly due to good park protection and management combined with the constant monitoring of breeding females and the high survival rate of cubs.
During the period 1996 to 2001, eight litters were produced which accounted for 22 cubs; only two mortalities were recorded during this period.
This intensive monitoring continued up to 2001.
A Wealth of Information
A total of seven tigers (two males and five females) as well as five sambar and two chital were radio-collared and monitored.
Radio-tracking of these tigers amounts to over 41 tiger years of total monitoring.
If observation and monitoring of all tigers, including cubs and non radio-collared tigers are put together it amounts to an astonishing 95 tiger years of monitoring.
The team was able to observe and monitor for extended periods eight breeding females, five adult male tigers and over 14 litters (over 31 cubs) from these known breeding tigresses.
In addition to this, five sambar and two chital were also radio-collared to learn more about the tiger prey.
A detailed monitoring system for tiger and its prey was established.
An intensive and reliable prey monitoring system was established in the Tiger Reserve by the research team.
Using advance remote camera a monitoring system for tigers, common leopard and hyena populations was established in the Reserve and two censuses were conducted in 2002 and 2003.
Local research assistants were trained in conducting prey and tiger census.
People’s suggestion invited on Panna Tiger Reserve.
The Madhya Pradesh Government constituted an expert committee to go into the “dwindling number†of tigers in Panna Tiger Reserve. Till date its has not been tabled. I took out the report through RTI Act 2005 on Feb 16th 2010.
THE CULPRITS – Mr. Avni Vaisha, Dr H S Pabla and Mr. Bandopadhya are enjoying the patronage of the Government.
Sad Saga.
July 2005
Poacher is nabbed at Chhatarpur Mohd. Rais is arrested at Chhatarpur (a town close to the Panna Tiger Reserve) in July 2005. In his statement to the police he admits to trading in eight. He also said that these mostly came from Panna forests.
Supreme Court asks for fresh assessment using camera trap. Supreme Court asks the M.P. forest department to conduct another assessment using camera traps.Census was conducted in early 2006.
May 2006.
Another Tigress with two cubs dies from poisoning during the census operation. Forensic report confirms poisoning.
October 2008.
Recognising the Panna tiger population as “alarmingly lowâ€, Tiger Conservation Authority Member Secretary requests urgent action from the Field Director to improve protection and “secure†the park; he further requests cameratraps be deployed “at the earliest†with assistance of the Wildlife Institute of India.
December 2008.
Brainstorming Meeting is organized hurriedly at Khajuraho. As situation in Panna becomes desperate, with no signs of tiger in the park in Oct/Nov 2008.
January 2009.
Third assessment by WII. It is once again (for the third time) asked to assess the tiger population. Their interim report finds no camera captures of tigers in the Reserve. A larger team is sent with fifty cameras distributed extensively. The final report is yet to be submitted.
March 2009.
Two tigresses are moved to Panna. One tigress is brought at night by road from Bandhavgarh and one, midst protests, is flown from Kanha. There is no longer a male left in the Park. The State authorities have now requested permission to translocate a male too. However the Ministry of Environment and Forest has asked to explain what has happened to all the males that were claimed to be still there.
April 2009.
MoEF constitutes a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to look into the disappearance of tigers in Panna. Their interim investigations confirm that no tigers remain in Panna and this is made public. The last tiger evidence – pugmarks of the remaining male – were seen in Panna in-mid January 2009. The tigers of Panna are no more; even the management cannot make zero equal 35. The warnings were unheeded and the predictions were fulfilled— Sariska II is with us.
Despite grave warnings, the Madhya Pradesh Forest department and its officials manning the Wildlife Management wing, found no alarming signs in Panna and failed to act in time. The Tiger Research Project concluded that there was loss of tigers at an alarming rate; widespread and increased poaching of tiger prey; felling, uprooting and burning of thousands of trees along the roads to create view line for tourists; extensive burning of forest; removal of important browse species; burning of excessively wide fire lines, reckless quarrying and removal of sandstone blocks for departmental construction work causing extensive damage to river beds in core areas of the park; damage to wildlife habitat by elephant; and death and injuries caused to wild animals by barbed wire and chain link fence near the Park boundary.
The money bungling. of the Tax payers
A whopping sum of Rs 2,774.699 lakh was spent between 2007 and 2009 for tiger conservation in Panna Tiger Reserve (PTR), but the big cat population declined and came to zero in the reserve by 2009.where was this money spent? Following reports of the Panna being zero of tiger population in 2009, the WII again carried a camera trap census. Following that, in April 2009, the special investigation team of the Centre declared that there was no tiger in the reserve. Before 2006, the tiger census were carried out by pug mark methodology annually and according to it there were 25, 28, 31, 33, 33, 34 and 35 tigers in Panna in 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004 and 2005 respectively.
The State Forest department and Wildlife authorities have several questions to answer. The burning question is: What action was taken regarding the violations of the Supreme Court orders and Wildlife Protection Act by the Park management in the Panna Tiger Reserve after the report submitted by the Central Empowered Committee of the Supreme Court?
The Park management is in the dock for cutting and digging roots of thousands of trees on either side of the tourist roads, burning of large tracts of forest and in the process destroying important wildlife habitats, illegal sand stone mining by the department itself inside the National Park for use in departmental construction works, destruction of important grassland by removal of “ber†(an important browse species), creating large water bodies, construction of forest chowki in the middle of the grassland, and poaching of tigers and its prey species.
The Central Empowered Committee also found management responsible for damaging the Park’s habitat and for taking up large-scale construction activity without prior permission of the Supreme Court. It also took serious note of the “general apathy of the senior officialsâ€. Panna is showed signs of Sariska but the insensititive authorities never paid heed to the signals, letters, research and finally the Panna lost all its Tigers.
The present Chief Secretary of Madhya Pradesh Mr. Avni Vaish was Principal Secretary of the Forest Department Madhya Pradesh, Mr P B Gangopadhya- is on deputation in Delhi, Principal Chief Conservator of Forest Madhya Pradesh Dr. H.S. Pabla was removed from the post and was sent in the working plan, Dr P B Gangopadhya was sent to Delhi on deputation after the fiasco. All the three names are as culprits in the committee report.
Today the persons responsible for the fiasco are being promoted and enjoying the benefits on the public expense and at the cost of the Tigers in Madhya Pradesh. We need accountability on Panna Genocide.
We want an immediate action!
And if accurate it shows at the minimum and tremendous lack of either concern or management... or both. And that’s a "best case" evaluation. At worst... it shows actual illegal culpability.
5th june will always be remembered as a black day in the History of India.
“Considering your own duty too, you ought not to hesitate, for there is no better engagement that exists (for a Kshatriya) than fighting for righteousness†- The Bhagavat Gita, Chapter 2, Verse 31.
Do not cut down the forest with its tigers and do not banish the tigers from the forest; the tiger perishes without the forest and the forest perishes without its tigers†- Mahabharata, 400 BCE, Udyogaparva.
Who is responsible for the loss of Panna Genes form the face of the earth? What does the so called Expert committee says on the decimation of the Tigers in the Madhya Pradesh State? What does the Sit report says? Who are to be blamed? Factors behind the Tigers debacle in Panna? Panna and the story of Denial. What is Panna Conspiracy?
Shehla Masood
Secretary
Udai Society
9826020233
I will make sure Madhya Pradesh Remains a Tiger State.
Mr. Jairam Ramesh
Minister of State (Independent Charge)
Ministry of Environment and Forests
Sub- Dr H.S Pabla appointment in Madhya Pradesh as the Principal Chief Conservator (Wildlife) Madhya Pradesh.
Dear Sir,
5th June 2010 will always be remembered as a black day in the history of India. The Person who has been named as the offender in the Panna Committee report headed by Mr. P K Sen is being promoted, supported and guarded in Madhya Pradesh. He is responsible for the vanishing of Panna genes in the world!
I would like to take you back to the year 2001.
From 2001 April to March 2009 different Field Directors have given priority to different things forgetting the basics of management of tiger reserve that security was the most important item as Panna Tiger Reserve is surrounded by large number of villages indulging in poaching.
Rampant poaching and total “denial for the past eight years†have led to the extinction of tigers in Panna .â€Central investigation has revealedâ€. The state government Headed by Dr H S Pabla denied any crisis even as tigers were regularly being poached for eight years between 2002 and 2009, an extensive report prepared by a Special Investigative Team (SIT) set up by the Ministry of Environment and Forests also found out.
The SIT was constituted to investigate the extinction of tigers from Panna which till 2007 held at least 24 tigers.
The SERIES of warnings by the Ministry of Environment and Forests, the Wildlife Institute of India (WII), independent scientists , activists and NGOs were deliberately ignored between 2002 and 2008 as Madhya Pradesh concentrated on ‘tourism and welfare’ and senior officials looked the other way, says the report.
It was Dr HS Pabla who sent a letter for making Hunting as legal!
A string of warnings, given by the Ministry of Environment and Forests, the Wildlife Institute of India (WII), independent scientists and NGOs were ignored between 2002 and 2008 as Madhya Pradesh concentrated on ‘tourism and welfare’ and senior officials looked the other way, says the report.
The report says that the team felt that Panna was a very special case because the management received so many cautions and warning letters from different agencies. It has been observed by the team that Government of Madhya Pradesh was always in a denial mode that there was crisis in Panna. Dr H S Pabla having vested interests never agreed to what experst said about the shrinking population of the tigers in Panna..
“The advisories/guidelines and red alerts on protection and monitoring protocols issued by the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA), time and again, were not followed in action and spirit. Even newspaper warnings were ignored,†it says. The Indian Express had reported in March this year that there were no tigers left in Panna, which the MP Forest Department denied.
You will be surprised to know that the team said that ‘intelligence-gathering was never important’ for Panna tiger reserve and the failure was from the highest level. For the investigation, field directors between 2002 and 2009 were questioned and MP police poaching records were accessed. For the same period, the report says, “Senior officers of the rank of PCCF and Chief Wildlife Warden and Additional PCCF Wildlife visited the reserve number of times. Nowhere in their tour report has it been mentioned that the reserve was facing problems which could be a cause of disappearance of tiger. The Principal Secretary Forest was least concerned about tigers in the reserve. The entire department in Bhopal was busy corresponding with scientists, individuals, NGOs and even members of the CEC denying facts even without verification. Mr. Avni Vaisha, Dr H S Pabla and Mr. Bandopadhya today are enjoying the patronage of the Government on the expense of tax payers money.
This is a situation much worse than Sariska,†P K Sen, former Director, Project Tiger and a member of the team mentioned to media. In Sariska, the tigers were lost mostly over one year. The Panna crisis is unprecedented as the negligence went on for eight whole years. In 2001, tiger scientist Raghu Chundawat said that a tiger he had collared was suddenly gone. His plea was dismissed by the state. Infact the whole administration went campaigning against him and his founding although the truth is out now. MP has perfected the art of denial since a decade. If the state could not handle the reserve, the department should have acknowledged this. The way forward is simple. Unless you admit there is a problem, you can’t find the solution. Bu the insensinsitive babuls were not bothered and the Politicians knew the Tigers do not vote.
The other members of the team were: Qamar Qureshi, Scientist, Wildlife Institute of India, Chaturbhuja Behera, Regional Deputy Director, Jabalupur, Wildlife Crime Control Bureau, and S. P. Yadav, DIG, National Tiger Conservation Authority (Member Convener).
Its is National shame and disgrace ! It is worst than Sariska Episode. It is tragic and painful to read everyday negative stories about world's largest cats tigers in Indian forests. Tigers are not safe in So-called protected areas. Hang all the corrupted forest officials and Poachers. They are anti-nationals. They are killing Indian tigers for Chinese medicine. Hang them all !
The sorry state of shrinking numbers of tigers in India shows apathy of Indian government which cannot protect citizens leave alone tigers.If we want to protect our tigers let's give all the remaining tigers to poor African countries or Iran who, though are poor have the means and will to protect this magnificent and handsome species. Also don't forget to cancel name of tiger as the national animal of India as we are shamefully and disgustingly incapable of protecting the sanctity of their habitat.
Totally wastage of tax payers money, we punish, a employee, of pvt. cos., because of his inefficiency, who will punish these corrupted govt. officials, bring criminal charges against them for being a traitor, they are more dangerous than terrorists, who are like termites preying on nations resources, even their pensions should also not be paid, either govt. should privatize this, or dissolve the whole wild life projects, and stop wasting govt. funds.
What has happened has happened. There is however no mention of who were the poachers. Both the poachers and the senior officers who sem to have shielded them should be caught and brought to book. I think the centre should take this matter very seriously and use intelligence agencies to identify the network of those trading in tiger skins etc. Some big names would be involved I am sure but the Minister of Environment and Forests should be strong enough to pursue this caes to the end. Its high time now.
Details for your perusal.
Central Empowered Committee.
When the situation started getting out of hand, they scurried into action and relocated two female tigers to Panna.
The Tiger Study which says-
Panna Tiger Reserve comprises Dry Tropical Forest, which is the largest tiger habitat in India. Unfortunately it is in this habitat that tigers are most vulnerable and are disappearing at a much faster rate than in any other habitats.
The Tiger Research Project in the Panna Tiger Reserve, undertaken by Dr. R.S. Chundawat, was the only study on the ecology of tiger in a Dry Tropical Forest.
The Tiger Research Project is still the only long-term study on tigers in three decades of tiger conservation history of India.
The research in Panna Tiger Reserve was started as a Wildlife Institute of India project in October 1995 and later continued independently with Government approval and all the required permissions.
R S Chundawat
A responsive management: Early lessons
The first tiger was radio-collared in April 1996 – a female who died in the monsoon of the same year. Her dead body was recovered near a cattle kill.
This alerted management to the possibility of poisoning and they took necessary action. Since then every cattle kill was immediately investigated.
Elephants were regularly provided to the research team to locate and monitor radio collared tigers. Every kill was located and monitored with the help of the elephant. Management also assisted the research team in monitoring some of the key areas outside the park that were frequently visited by the tigers.
Early in the study (1996), a very low density of 2-3 tigers/100 km2 was estimated for the core area.
In 2002 the estimation of tiger population by using camera traps, documented one of the finest recoveries of a tiger population in recent history. It estimated a density of almost 7 tigers/100 km2. This was mainly due to good park protection and management combined with the constant monitoring of breeding females and the high survival rate of cubs.
During the period 1996 to 2001, eight litters were produced which accounted for 22 cubs; only two mortalities were recorded during this period.
This intensive monitoring continued up to 2001.
A Wealth of Information
A total of seven tigers (two males and five females) as well as five sambar and two chital were radio-collared and monitored.
Radio-tracking of these tigers amounts to over 41 tiger years of total monitoring.
If observation and monitoring of all tigers, including cubs and non radio-collared tigers are put together it amounts to an astonishing 95 tiger years of monitoring.
The team was able to observe and monitor for extended periods eight breeding females, five adult male tigers and over 14 litters (over 31 cubs) from these known breeding tigresses.
In addition to this, five sambar and two chital were also radio-collared to learn more about the tiger prey.
A detailed monitoring system for tiger and its prey was established.
An intensive and reliable prey monitoring system was established in the Tiger Reserve by the research team.
Using advance remote camera a monitoring system for tigers, common leopard and hyena populations was established in the Reserve and two censuses were conducted in 2002 and 2003.
Local research assistants were trained in conducting prey and tiger census.
People’s suggestion invited on Panna Tiger Reserve.
The Madhya Pradesh Government constituted an expert committee to go into the “dwindling number†of tigers in Panna Tiger Reserve. Till date its has not been tabled. I took out the report through RTI Act 2005 on Feb 16th 2010.
THE CULPRITS – Mr. Avni Vaisha, Dr H S Pabla and Mr. Bandopadhya are enjoying the patronage of the Government.
Sad Saga.
July 2005
Poacher is nabbed at Chhatarpur Mohd. Rais is arrested at Chhatarpur (a town close to the Panna Tiger Reserve) in July 2005. In his statement to the police he admits to trading in eight. He also said that these mostly came from Panna forests.
Supreme Court asks for fresh assessment using camera trap. Supreme Court asks the M.P. forest department to conduct another assessment using camera traps.Census was conducted in early 2006.
May 2006.
Another Tigress with two cubs dies from poisoning during the census operation. Forensic report confirms poisoning.
October 2008.
Recognising the Panna tiger population as “alarmingly lowâ€, Tiger Conservation Authority Member Secretary requests urgent action from the Field Director to improve protection and “secure†the park; he further requests cameratraps be deployed “at the earliest†with assistance of the Wildlife Institute of India.
December 2008.
Brainstorming Meeting is organized hurriedly at Khajuraho. As situation in Panna becomes desperate, with no signs of tiger in the park in Oct/Nov 2008.
January 2009.
Third assessment by WII. It is once again (for the third time) asked to assess the tiger population. Their interim report finds no camera captures of tigers in the Reserve. A larger team is sent with fifty cameras distributed extensively. The final report is yet to be submitted.
March 2009.
Two tigresses are moved to Panna. One tigress is brought at night by road from Bandhavgarh and one, midst protests, is flown from Kanha. There is no longer a male left in the Park. The State authorities have now requested permission to translocate a male too. However the Ministry of Environment and Forest has asked to explain what has happened to all the males that were claimed to be still there.
April 2009.
MoEF constitutes a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to look into the disappearance of tigers in Panna. Their interim investigations confirm that no tigers remain in Panna and this is made public. The last tiger evidence – pugmarks of the remaining male – were seen in Panna in-mid January 2009. The tigers of Panna are no more; even the management cannot make zero equal 35. The warnings were unheeded and the predictions were fulfilled— Sariska II is with us.
Despite grave warnings, the Madhya Pradesh Forest department and its officials manning the Wildlife Management wing, found no alarming signs in Panna and failed to act in time. The Tiger Research Project concluded that there was loss of tigers at an alarming rate; widespread and increased poaching of tiger prey; felling, uprooting and burning of thousands of trees along the roads to create view line for tourists; extensive burning of forest; removal of important browse species; burning of excessively wide fire lines, reckless quarrying and removal of sandstone blocks for departmental construction work causing extensive damage to river beds in core areas of the park; damage to wildlife habitat by elephant; and death and injuries caused to wild animals by barbed wire and chain link fence near the Park boundary.
The money bungling. of the Tax payers
A whopping sum of Rs 2,774.699 lakh was spent between 2007 and 2009 for tiger conservation in Panna Tiger Reserve (PTR), but the big cat population declined and came to zero in the reserve by 2009.where was this money spent? Following reports of the Panna being zero of tiger population in 2009, the WII again carried a camera trap census. Following that, in April 2009, the special investigation team of the Centre declared that there was no tiger in the reserve. Before 2006, the tiger census were carried out by pug mark methodology annually and according to it there were 25, 28, 31, 33, 33, 34 and 35 tigers in Panna in 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004 and 2005 respectively.
The State Forest department and Wildlife authorities have several questions to answer. The burning question is: What action was taken regarding the violations of the Supreme Court orders and Wildlife Protection Act by the Park management in the Panna Tiger Reserve after the report submitted by the Central Empowered Committee of the Supreme Court?
The Park management is in the dock for cutting and digging roots of thousands of trees on either side of the tourist roads, burning of large tracts of forest and in the process destroying important wildlife habitats, illegal sand stone mining by the department itself inside the National Park for use in departmental construction works, destruction of important grassland by removal of “ber†(an important browse species), creating large water bodies, construction of forest chowki in the middle of the grassland, and poaching of tigers and its prey species.
The Central Empowered Committee also found management responsible for damaging the Park’s habitat and for taking up large-scale construction activity without prior permission of the Supreme Court. It also took serious note of the “general apathy of the senior officialsâ€. Panna is showed signs of Sariska but the insensititive authorities never paid heed to the signals, letters, research and finally the Panna lost all its Tigers.
The present Chief Secretary of Madhya Pradesh Mr. Avni Vaish was Principal Secretary of the Forest Department Madhya Pradesh, Mr P B Gangopadhya- is on deputation in Delhi, Principal Chief Conservator of Forest Madhya Pradesh Dr. H.S. Pabla was removed from the post and was sent in the working plan, Dr P B Gangopadhya was sent to Delhi on deputation after the fiasco. All the three names are as culprits in the committee report.
Today the persons responsible for the fiasco are being promoted and enjoying the benefits on the public expense and at the cost of the Tigers in Madhya Pradesh. We need accountability on Panna Genocide.
We want an immediate action!
And if accurate it shows at the minimum and tremendous lack of either concern or management... or both. And that’s a "best case" evaluation. At worst... it shows actual illegal culpability.
5th june will always be remembered as a black day in the History of India.
“Considering your own duty too, you ought not to hesitate, for there is no better engagement that exists (for a Kshatriya) than fighting for righteousness†- The Bhagavat Gita, Chapter 2, Verse 31.
Do not cut down the forest with its tigers and do not banish the tigers from the forest; the tiger perishes without the forest and the forest perishes without its tigers†- Mahabharata, 400 BCE, Udyogaparva.
Who is responsible for the loss of Panna Genes form the face of the earth? What does the so called Expert committee says on the decimation of the Tigers in the Madhya Pradesh State? What does the Sit report says? Who are to be blamed? Factors behind the Tigers debacle in Panna? Panna and the story of Denial. What is Panna Conspiracy?
Shehla Masood
Secretary
Udai Society
9826020233
I will make sure Madhya Pradesh Remains a Tiger State.
Friday, June 4
A firing incident near the entrance of the Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve on Wednesday has once more brought this protected area under sharp focus. This tiger reserve in Madhya Pradesh is already underthe scanner after a tigress Jhurjuria was murdered and so far no one has been made responsible.
When contacted, state additional chief wildlife warden T.R. Sharma verified the firing incident but refused to add anything further saying the matter is under investigation. Pl share the information id one has ..
When contacted, state additional chief wildlife warden T.R. Sharma verified the firing incident but refused to add anything further saying the matter is under investigation. Pl share the information id one has ..
Tuesday, June 1
Report of the Member Secretary, NTCA on Jurjhuria Tigress Death in Bandhavgarh
Report of the Member Secretary, NTCA
As directed, the undersigned visited the Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve (MP) on 31st May
and 1st June, 2010 to ascertain the factual status regarding the recent mortality of a
tigress. The factual status/ observations based on interactions with the CCF and Field
Director, staff and wildlife enthusiasts/ tour operators, besides site visit are as below:
1. The tigress was a resident, breeding animal at ‘Jhurjhura’ (Tala Range)
which forms part of the core/ critical tiger habitat.
2. The tigress, alongwith its 3 cubs (around 6 months old) has been
intensively photographed/ seen/ monitored by the park management and
visitors. The said tigress has also been captured by the research team from
the Wildlife Institute of India in its data collection process using camera
traps.
3. The tigress was last seen by visitors and photographed on 17-05-2010
during the forenoon, besides sighting by tourists in the evening till 5 PM
(Jhurjhura dam)
4. On 18-05-2010 the tigress was not seen in its usual area (Jhurjhura dam).
5. The tigress was used to viewing by visitors and there are no reports of the
animal showing any aggressive behavior.
6. The day-to-day record of vehicular entry (tourist vehicles) is maintained
by the park management at the main entry point (Tala).
7. It is learnt that 3 Govt. vehicles (2 belonging to the park management and
1 outsourced by the CEO, Zila Panchayat, Umaria) entered the park in
the late afternoon on 18-05-2010. Besides, 2 park vehicles also went inside
for the routine patrolling works from Tala to Kallwah which did not pass
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