Autonomous board plan for Ranthambore, Sariska, Keoladeo

Jaipur, Mar 6 (UNI) State forest minister Laxmi Narayan said the government has received a proposal to set up an autonomous board to govern the Ranthambhore, Sariska and Keoladeo national parks but no time frame has been set for it.

Acording to reports, the forest department has prepared a guideline for the board and sent it to the Chief Minister.

Mr Sudarshan Sethi, state forest secretary, told UNI today ''The process of forming the board is on but no concrete decision has been taken yet. The board will be formed keeping the rules and regulations of the Wildlife Act in mind.'' The board is expected to have seven independent members.

''The board's objective will be to increase the efficiency of the national parks providing a better, secured environment for its inhabitants, preserve the bio-diversity, check poaching and develop the preipheral villages around the parks,'' Sethi added.

''The aim of the board will be to ensure that the parks are able to sustain themselves,'' said Mr Sethi.

However he refused to confirm whether different boards will be set up for the three different parks or all these will come under one board. ''It's only a proposal,'' said Sethi.

Chief Wildlife Warden R N Mehrotra also admitted a proposal has indeed been sent to the government.

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