The persisting logjam between the Ministry of Environment & Forests (MoEF) and Uttar Pradesh forest department over the proposed lion safari in the Fisher forest at Etawah has cleared, with the former reluctantly giving its approval.
The issue was hanging fire since the past three months over the implementation of provisions of Forest Conservation Act (FCA), 1980 in the Fisher forest despite having the clearance of Central Zoo Authority (CZA) in February this year. The Pioneer had first reported the matter.
According to MoEF’s own guidelines dated November 13, 2007, provisions of FCA are not applicable in forest areas that have the final approval of master plan from Central Zoo Authority. This was also confirmed by CZA member secretary BS Bonal.
According to sources in the MoEF, “Official letter of approval has been sent to the State in consideration of MoEF norm of 2007 (mentioned above), along with the Supreme Court approval to the project (order dated November 27, 2006).”
However, in such a situation, one failed to understand the uncalled for delay in getting the “so-called” approval from the Ministry. While the Chief Wildlife Warden Rupak De had repeatedly mentioned in the past that the forest department was ready with the required clearances, the green Ministry was dithering its approval even after CZA clearance in February this year, primarily over the issue of violation of FCA in Fisher forest.
The matter was also taken up by Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav, who personally wrote to the Environment Minister Jayanthi Natarajan to look into the issue.
Meanwhile, enthused by the green signal from MoEF, work has commenced in the proposed safari cum conservation and breeding centre. With Kuno Palpur in Madhya Pradesh, hogging limelight as the proposed second home for lions in the country, it is time for Etawah conservation cum breeding centre to make its presence felt in lion conservation.
“Both men and material along with funds are already in place,” said De. The lion safari would cover an area of 350 hectares with a focus on the lion breeding centre. The lions will be restricted within 50 hectares area only, with at least 10 lions in the kitty, following which it will open up the safari before the public, he added.
He hoped to make the conservation breeding centre into a strong gene pool of Asiatic lions by procuring species from different habitats and locations. Four Asiatic lions had already been brought to Kanpur Zoo and lucknow Zoo, from zoos in Hyderabad and Rajkot. De is keen to get at least six to eight more from Junagarh in Gujarat. “We are pursuing the matter with the Gujarat Government,” he said.