Uttarakhand is yet to sign a memorandum of understanding with the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) to facilitate formation of the Special Tiger Protection Force (STPF) in the State.
However, the State Government publication marking the Congress-led Government’s completion of one year in office states that such an MoU has been signed and that the process for recruiting 118 STPF personnel has started. In fact, the recruitment has been stalled due to the delay in signing the MoU.
In a letter to the principal secretary Forest and Environment, S Ramaswamy, the PFA Uttarakhand member secretary Gauri Maulekhi has pointed out that the publication “Santulit Vikas ki Ore Badhte Kadam” released by Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna to mark completion of his one year in office on March 13, contains incorrect information.
“It has been claimed on page 12 that a Special Tiger Protection Force has been constituted in the State for the protection of tigers whereas the Government order regarding the constitution of STPF was issued in September 2010 by the then Forest and Rural Development Commissioner Subhash Kumar. The constitution of STPF has nothing to do with the one year of the present Government and is a white lie communicated to the Chief Minister Office by the Forest department. It has also been claimed on page 22 that MoU has been signed with the NTCA for the formation of STPF, which is a blatant lie communicated to and endorsed in a publication released by the Chief Minister himself,” she said, adding, “If information has been provided to the Chief Minister’s Office, it may logically be concluded that it passed through your office. The delay in signing the MoU has already irked the concerned citizens of the State.”
She has requested Ramaswamy to expedite the signing of the MoU with NTCA for formation of STPF and to publish a public apology in newspapers regarding the false information provided in the Government publication on the advice provided by his office.
When telephoned, the principal secretary did not respond. However, Corbett Tiger Reserve field director Ranjan Kumar Mishra informed The Pioneer that the MoU is yet to be signed. Delay in signing the MoU has stalled the recruitment process for STPF.