The conservation of critically endangered Great Indian Bustards, regarded as pride of Rajasthan, is under CAG scanner in its own State. Along with the GIB’s the Ghariyals, (figuring in the IUCN Red list of Endangered Species).and sloth bears that have a sizeable population in the State, are also on the CAG radar.
In its performance audits of ‘Protection of Forests and Wildlife of Rajasthan’, CAG has observed lack of adequate efforts to prevent their decline in population. It has called for “initiation of special programmes for protection of habitats of critically endangered species, so that, these vulnerable species do not get extinct in the State.”
The audit report noted that population of GIB had decreased due to “non sanction of recovery plan from the GOI”. Endemic to the Indian Sub Continent, it is the State bird of Rajasthan and identified as one of the species under the centrally-sponsored “recovery programme for saving critically endangered species and habitats” by the centre in April 2010.
The report states that the State Government had sent a recovery plan of Rs34.35 crore to the Centre, whose approval was awaited. The money was for development of core area, construction of enclosures, pasture and infrastructure developments. The department accepted as on December 2012 that the sanction of plan has not been received.
According to the official figures of Ministry of Environment and Forest, there are only 296 individuals left in the country, of which 175 are found in Rajasthan.
The report says that the Desert National Park (DNP) in Jaisalmer that was to be developed as habitat for conservation of the GIB is also facing rough weather. Out of 3,162 sq km area that was to be notified by the State Government for DNP Wildlife Sanctuary, only 50.76 sq/km area, (two per cent of the WS area) was actually forest land and the rest, the Government and revenue land, and private properties making the proposed notification difficult.
Besides, 73 villages were situated within the Wildlife Sanctuary (WS) area resulting in biotic pressure, habitat interference and fragmented habitats. The department has not initiated any step to relocate the villages and increase the forest area.
The CAG report also expressed concern over the conservation of Ghariyals. Endemic to Indian sub-continent, its major breeding populations is confined to two rivers of Girwa and Chambal in the country. Accordingly, part of Chambal falling in their respective territorial jurisdiction, has been declared as Wildlife sanctuary by the three States
However, for proper functioning/execution of plan/programme, establishment of a separate division for NCS was included in the management plan. Audit observed that neither separate division was created nor separate staff sanctioned for the WS in this regard.. Further, no census was carried out till 2012 and the State Government did not know survival status of Ghariyals.
The CAG report further noted that Sloth Bear population in South Western parts of Aravallis in Rajasthan needs to be protected by declaring the area as a sanctuary, especially Jaswantpura hills in Jalore district.
It was observed that no WS was declared for protection of Sloth Bear. Only a Conservation Reserve — ‘Sundha Mata’ has been so far declared by the State Government in the forest block of Jaswantpura. However, no planning/scheme for protection and conservation of Sloth Bear has been initiated by the State. The department intimated (December 2012) that finalisation of National Action plan for conservation of Sloth Bear is under process, said the report.