With continuous dwindling in number of tigers in the prestigious Palamau Tiger Reserve (PTR), the safety and security of the remaining six big cats has been pushed even further to a dangerous level. Hundreds of forest guards and trackers have been denied salaries for last several months and even regular expenses for maintenance of the reserve like fuel for patrolling, lighting equipment etc have been put on hold.
The situation has become so severe that for meeting the immediate needs the Forest and Environment Department decided to divert some fund meant for Bhagwan Birsa Zoological Park to the tiger reserve so that at least salaries of the field staffs, vital for security of the wild animals, can be met.
"There was no other option left as we have not got extension on sanction for the current financial year so far. The file has reached to the Chief Minister (who is also holding charge of the concerned Department). The makeshift arrangement has been made to meet some immediate expenses and keep poor staffs at least floating," said an official. As per the existing practice, the PTR gets annual sanction that goes for Accountant General's assent after securing clearance from the Department.
The ad-hoc arrangement has been put in place despite about Rs four crore available for two forest divisions that home the tiger reserve. The callousness is when just six big cats have been left in the PTR as per 2009 census while two more cubs have been added recently. The number can be considered dismal in comparison with 44 in 1997 and 42 in 2003. Fate of the highly vulnerable creature becomes even uncertain with alarming number of tiger poaching cases immerging in the country.
latest figures of the National Tiger Conservation Society (NTCS) count 51 poaching cases in the country this year with one at Kaziranga National Park of Assam that has taken place on October 5. Even the Wildlife Protection Society of India has rated the PTR as hotspots for tiger related trades. Chief Wildlife Warden AK Mishra also admitted that the final call was awaited and any step would be taken only after that only. The population is vulnerable here as no breakthrough can be made in purchasing latest cameras to be installed on strategic intersections in the PTR.
"We have few cameras left in the park those also are not fully operational. In this scenario it is hard to keep track on the animal and their presence in the area," said an official of the Project Tiger. Similarly, proposal to form a separate Palamau Tiger Foundation for the reserve is also hanging fire that would have given the authorities liberty to maintain a revolving fund that could not lapse with every passing year. When contacted, a secretary level official of the Department said that the proposal was under consideration.
The latest setback to the tiger conservation efforts in Jharkhand has been received in the form of the Election Commission's call. The Commission has deputed several officers of the PTR, including its Project Director SEH Kazmi, for poll duties at the time when fresh census for big cats is scheduled to start in the month of October. In the wake of the deadline, the NTCS has reportedly issued an 'advisory' not to relieve the concerned officials for any other job like for conducting elections but with no heed. This would certainly take its toll on the census work, thinks a senior official of the Department.