The decisions taken at the meeting of the Tiger Conservation Foundation for Corbett Tiger Reserve (CTR) chaired by Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna on Tuesday have been welcomed as positive.
However, activists and observers said that the benefit from these measures will depend on the level of execution. These decisions include payment of Rs 5 lakh ex-gratia amount to Forest Department workers who died in the line of duty, establishment of cadres for mahouts, fodder cutters and elephant managers and approval in principle to the setting up of a State wildlife forensic lab.
The CTR honorary warden Brijendra Singh told The Pioneer that a separate cadre for mahouts, fodder cutters and elephant managers will help ensure that only those with the necessary skills are appointed to these posts.
“Appointments of people without the skills required for these posts have a detrimental effect. These posts require skilled persons with the required knowledge. Additionally, providing nutritious food to the about half a dozen trained pachyderms in Corbett is also a welcome decision. The decision to facilitate the setting up of a State wildlife forensic lab in Uttarakhand will also have a positive impact by making the department self reliant in stead of being dependant on Wildlife Institute of India and other institutions. However, the decisions will have to be chased and their effective execution will have to be ensured to facilitate the desired benefit,” he stressed.
Wildlife Protection Society of India, Uttarakhand in-charge Rajendra Agrawal said that the decisions taken at the meeting on Tuesday are good but the benefit will depend on whether these are implemented. Observers too point out that even in the past decisions taken by the Chief Minister have not been executed. The decision taken in the meeting of the State Wildlife Advisory Board to install guard rails along the stretches of railway track passing through Rajaji national park which are succeptible to accidents involving elephants has not yet been implemented.
Considering this and other decisions not yet implemented it remains to be seen whether the latest decisions will be implemented.