Information about the involvement of the Indian Mujahideen in wildlife crimes, intelligence on the poaching of tigers and other wildlife apart from information about notorious poachers in the State would have generally made any senior forest official direct necessary action without delay.
However, according to the additional principal chief conservator of forests (Wildlife), Administration and Intelligence, SK Dutt, the principal chief conservator of forests (Wildlife) and chief wildlife warden SS Sharma — who is presently also the officiating PCCF of the State — not only ignored such vital information about serious wildlife crimes with major ramifications but also failed to take necessary action inspite of more than 100 letters being sent by Dutt to him on these issues. Taking cognisance of the serious
allegations leveled by the APCCF against the PCCF, the National Tiger Conservation Authority has now sought a clarification from Sharma. The APPCF and anti-poaching cell director SK Dutt had written a letter to the PCCF (Wildlife) SS Sharma in January this year, complaining about lack of action taken by Sharma on numerous occasions when vital information related to poaching and other wildlife crime was conveyed to him. The letter states that more than 100 letters were written to Sharma informing him about tiger/leopard poaching, movement of poachers, suspected involvement of Indian Mujahideen in smuggling pelts and body parts of tigers poached in Uttarakhand and other serious issues.
Dutt had informed Sharma for taking necessary action against accused Dharmvir in a seizure of a tiger pelt, tiger pelt seized in Nepal being sourced from Corbett tiger reserve in Uttarakhand, camps of operations of notorious Bawaria and other poachers' gangs in different parts of the State, seizure of a snow leopard pelt, nine wildlife criminals of Uttarakhand being nabbed with the help of Hissar (Haryana) police, Nepal links of the wildlife criminals and various other vital information pertaining to wildlife crime especially tiger poaching in Uttarakhand.
However, no action was taken by Sharma in any of the cases about which he was informed. Dutt further alleged that Sharma has not taken any steps to strengthen anti-poaching efforts of the department in spite of repeated requests due to which Dutt is working alone in the anti-poaching cell without proper staff and resources. Due to some reason or the other Sharma remains mostly in Delhi which has led to disorder in the department. There are major irregularities in use of CAMPA funds and other suspected cases of major corruption. Citing various other anomalies being allegedly abetted by the PCCF (Wildlife), Dutt had asked Sharma to stop harassing him.
Taking serious cognisance of this, the NTCA member secretary Rajesh Gopal has written to Sharma and sought information about the factual status and follow-up action taken on the very serious issues stated by Dutt, 'having ramifications beyond the national boundary and State'.