Based on the report of a parliamentary committee to revisit all aspects of the Wild life Act in a “holistic manner” and come out with a comprehensive legislation, the Environment Ministry has decided to withdraw the Wild life (Protection) Amendment Bill, 2013.
The report that has been prepared by the Standing Committee on Environment and Forest besides Science and Technology was tabled in the Parliament on Thursday. It said that the Environment Ministry has initiated steps to obtain approval from the Prime Minister in this regard.
According to the recommendations in the report, the Ministry would henceforth undertake a comprehensive review of the Act “after carrying out a policy dialogue for ensuring conservation of life forms, plants and animals with the ecosystems and habitats, besides comparing the current norms with corresponding laws of other countries.”
The Bill had earlier proposed to insert new definitions in view of the amendments proposed in the Act. These had included provisions for prohibition on use of animal traps except in certain circumstances and relook at provisions / permissions on scientific research.
It also sought to make provisions relating to CITES so as to control illegal international trade in wild life and increase the punishment for offences under the Act. It had, however, sought to provide protection of hunting rights of the STs in the Union Territory of Andaman and Nicobar Islands amongst others.
The Wild life (Protection) Act 1972 provides legal framework in the country for the protection of various species of wild animals, management of their habitat and also for regulation and control of trade in the products derived from various parts of wild animals.