Mohinder Verma
JAMMU, Jan 8: Astonishing it may sound but it is a fact that exercise to ensure rationalization of boundaries of the wildlife sanctuaries and determine the rights of people living inside the protected areas is pending in the State during the past 10 years due to lack of coordination between Revenue and Wildlife Departments. Moreover, merely 190 personnel have been deployed for management of over 200 square kilometers protected area in the Jammu province.
There are 14 wildlife sanctuaries in the State-five in Jammu province and 9 in the Kashmir division and their management is the task of the Wildlife Department, which functions under the control of Administrative Secretary of the Forest Department.
Though the boundaries of these wildlife sanctuaries have largely been defined but in the year 2007 need was felt to rationalize the same so as to ensure proper demarcation and better management, official sources told EXCELSIOR.
Similarly, determination of rights of the people living inside the sanctuaries and national parks was also ordered in the same year after the Wildlife Department came under scanner of the Supreme Court for failure to implement the provisions of Wildlife Protection Act.
As without the cooperation of Revenue Department, neither rationalization/redefining of boundaries of wildlife sanctuaries nor determination of rights of people living in the villages falling inside or close to the protected areas was possible, the Wildlife Department took up the matter with all the Deputy Commissioners and accordingly necessary directions were issued down the line, sources informed.
“However, despite lapse of one decade the exercise could not be taken to the logical conclusion due to lack of coordination between Revenue Department and Wildlife Department thereby creating impediments in proper management of the protected areas and conservation of biodiversity”, they regretted, adding “though the Wildlife Department dashed numerous communications to the Revenue Department for necessary cooperation of its field functionaries during all these years yet slackness on the part of latter still persists”.
“The inordinate delay is being attributed to complex nature of the task”, they said, adding “by taking this stance the Revenue Department has clearly shown its complete non-seriousness towards the entire process as 10 years is more than sufficient time to resolve so-called complex issue”.
When contacted, a senior officer of the Wildlife Department confirmed that reorganization of boundaries of wildlife sanctuaries and determination of rights of the people has remained pending during the past over 10 years. “Unless rights of the people are determined the biodiversity cannot be properly conserved and protected”, he added.
“Another shocking aspect is non-serious approach of the Government towards meeting the manpower requirement of the Wildlife Department”, sources said while disclosing that last reorganization of the department was carried out in the year 1991. It was only in 2006 that addition of Chief Conservator of Forests (Eco-Tourism) was made in the IFS cadre.
Quoting instance of non-serious approach of the Government towards the Wildlife Department, sources said, “there are merely 190 personnel for the management of wildlife sanctuaries in Jammu region and majority of these personnel are from IWDP, SFC and other wings of the Forest Department as a temporary measure”, adding “majority of the personnel on deputation from other wings are untrained as far as management of the protected area as well as conservation of biodiversity is concerned”.
How only 190 personnel including untrained ones can ensure better management and protection of the five wildlife sanctuaries spread over an approximate area of 200 square kilometers, sources wondered, adding “it is a matter of concern that reorganization of the Wildlife Department to alleviate its problems is not being taken seriously by the Government”.
An officer of the Wildlife Department, when approached, confirmed that present manpower with the department was grossly inadequate to perform the mandatory duties and to ensure strict implementation of J&K Wildlife Protection Act. “The main problem is at the level of Range Officers, Foresters and Guards, who are required to manage the field”, he added.
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