Members suggest various ways to check declining numbers of tigers

New Delhi, Aug 20 (UNI) Members of the Rajya Sabha today suggested various ways to protect the tiger population from extinction, as well as measures for the welfare of the tribal population living in jungles.

Resuming the discussion on the Wild Life (Protection) Amendment Bill 2005, which was introduced in the House for consideration and passage by Minister for Forests and Environment A Raja last Friday, AIADMK's S P M Syed Khan said that problem of saving tigers still existed in the country even after 30 years.

Noting that the National Tiger Conservation Authority was finding it difficult to harmonise and compromise between the local problems and the states, he said the welfare of the tribal people has also to be taken care of besides saving the tigers.

Supporting the Bill, Prof Ram Deo Bhandary (RJD) said that tiger was the national animal which had to be protected, while for tribals to also remain inside forests, the authorities have to safeguard the interests of both.

In 1973, there were only nine projects dealing with the issue, today there are 28 projects in 17 States. In the last three decades, the population of tigers has dimnished with the big cats being killed by poachers, who trade in their skins, bones and other parts of bodies in foreign countries for hefty sums, he said, noting that China is also a buyer of these things for medicinal uses.

Pointing out nine varieties of tigers have become extinct, he said forests were shrinking as hotels and malls were being built near jungles and film shootings were also allowed inside forests.

''No film shootings should be allowed inside the forests for the safety of tribals as well as tigers,'' he demanded.

CPI (M)'s Brinda Karat, stressing the bill was a ''stand-alone'' bill but had ''many implications,'' said that it should have not been introduced in the house until the Tribal Bill was brought in.

''Safety of tigers is very essential, but the interests of the tribal people could also not be ignored,'' she said, adding that while considering and passing the bill, the recommendations of the Joint Parliament Committee on Tribals should also be taken into consideration.

BJP's Mr Ajay Maroo said that according to the census of 2002, there were 3642 tigers in the country, but now there are only 1300 to 1700 tigers left.

''After the narcotics business, the maximum smuggling concerns animals which runs into billions of dollars,'' he said.

Radhakant Nayak (Congress) demanded that policemen and forest guards deployed for the safety of animals should be given adequate payment and benefits to enable them to discharge their duties properly.

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