*The idea of creating a separate department for forests and wildlife so thatthe critical wildlife habitats can be effectively protected and monitored:*
*But where, Sir, are the Critical Wildlife Habitats? They haven't been notified?* Jairam agreed. He said that, *"even though the settlement of rights under the Forest Rights Act has been expedited the the notification of Critical Wildlife Habitats has lagged behind, indeed has not happened at all,. We have only gone on one track. States are defying the Forest Conservation Act.
* On buffer zones:*
*States are delaying in declaring buffer zones for tiger reserves, and this is not laziness on their part,. Delay in notification of buffers is not accidental, but a deliberate design, so that projects which will irrevocably damage biodiversity and habitats, can be cleared more easily, to allow for proliferation of harmful projects. If buffers are declared, clearance will be more stringent and difficult.*
*Take the example of Tadoba—there are no less than 40 to 50 power and mining projects around it. (Of which only one has been refused). Obviously the state is dragging it s feet in declaring buffer for the reserve.*
*We need cooperation from the states.*
*Will decoration of buffer zones be with retrospective effect?*
*M B Lal said **no**.*
*JR: We don't know—but I for one will not shy away from declaring buffer from retrospective effect, if clearances for projects proven to have a devastating, *deleterious *impact on the habitat and biodiversity, we are prepared to cancel the clearance. A classic example is the Athirapally project which had got clearance. We have issued a show cause notice to the Kerala Electricity Board, because of the opposition from local panchayats, the Kerala Biodiversity board, scieitsts, NGOs and the Kerala's Principle chief Conservator of Forests—who has incidentally been with the Kerala  Electricity board for ten years. There is enough evidence to show that it will do grave harm to the ecology and the biodiversity of the region.*
*On tiger deaths*
*That the number of deaths last year was unnaturally high, that we must expect more Sariska's. We drew the attention of the PM that many reserves were in a precarious state of 16 other tiger reserves—and that we can expect other Sariska's in the future. We also appraised him of the problems in certain states—like Madhya Pradesh, and the unnatural mortality in Corbett. And he has promise to lend the weight of his office and take up the matter with the CMs of these states.*
*Rehabilitation and relocation of people*
*Out of the 80,000 families to be relocated from tiger reserves, only 3,000 have been relocated so far. 77,000 need to be relocated, and will require a financial package of 8,000 crores. We have a current budget of 2,000 crores and the PM was appraised of this gap—and (on being questioned) No, we won't be taking money from the World Bank for this.*
*The important thing is we are also looking at voluntary relocation of villages within Protected Areas, other than tiger reserves — this is equally important, the GOI will support any voluntary relocation from all protected areas, and will offer the same relocation package as it does to TRs.*
*On wetlands*
*Our wetlands are disappearing at an alarming, unprecedented rate---and they are crucial eco-systems. A classic example is Kolkata where a number of wetlands have been lost to real estate. We are putting in place a set of regulations, under the Environment Protection Act, 1986 to protect wetlands and hope to place it before the Parliament before May.*
*On marine areas*
*Most of our PAs and conservation has been land-based, and it has been decided to give greater attention to our coastline and islands, and the marine ecosystem.*
*Illegal mining*
*The issue of illegal mines also came up at the meeting. Illegal mining for iron ore and bauxite is rampant in various states like Orissa, Jharkhand, Karnataka..These have a grave impact on critical wildlife habitats, corridors — and also impacting livelihoods of local people.*
*On incentivising states*
*No, there cannot be penalty for states. I do not believe in penalties. we have to persuade, cajole, give financial incentives for them to preserve ecology and biodiverisyt. to protect the tiger.*
*We have seen that there has been no recruitment for field staff for years and the existing staff is over 50. so can the centre think of providing a special financial package for new frontline staff, for say a five year period. This translates to 500 crores over a five year period. , and yes, we are working towards how we can go about this.*
