Wildlife and Rights activist from the city Ajay Dubey has demanded from Chief Minister Shivraj Singh to reconstitute Madhya Pradesh steering committee constituted for the wildlife protection. This committee is an independent body and is separate from the MP State Wildlife Board (MPSWB).
Dubey in a letter to Chief Minister Chouhan on Tuesday said, “I have come to know that Madhya Pradesh State level steering committee is holding its first meeting today at Bhopal. I will take this opportunity to inform you that tribal members from tribal advisory Council have not been appointed as members in this committee that is serious violation of wild life protection act 1972. Hence, it is requested to reconstitute the committee.”
The Committee was constituted in 1972 for the protection of forests and wildlife under MP state wildlife protection act 1972.
Dubey further said in his letter to the Chief Minister that it is legal compulsion to include 2 tribal members in this committee but due to the gross negligence of the forest department the tribal members have not been appointed till date in it. This is not only the violation of law but also the insult of the forest dwellers living in forests.
He said that as you are also the Ex- officio chairman of the committee hence we wish to bring it to your knowledge that we have earlier also lodged complaint in this regard with you, chief secretary of the state and the principal secretary forests. But no action has been initiated over it till date, he added. He said kindly reconstitute the committee by adopting fair selection process and include tribal persons in it.
Dubey, later while talking to The Pioneer alleged that it is the conspiracy of Chouhan government to keep Tribals away from this committee and appointing rich persons in it to benefit the rich persons in digesting the precious forest land.