CAG raps Rajasthan for Tiger project failure

Jaipur, March 17 (UNI) The CAG report 2006 has rapped the Rajasthan government for its inefficiency to control poaching, grazing and tourist movement in Ranthambhore and Sariska tiger reserves, resulting in drastic decrease of tiger population.

Concluding that the very purpose and objectives of Project Tiger have been defeated, the report said activities such as construction of demarcation pillars, mutation of forest land and soon were not undertaken' facilitating encroachment on forest land.

It also said inadequate provisions were made for relocation of villages out of reserve and rehabilitation of villagers. There has been no development of breeding sites in the designated core areas and also of no corridors between forest areas.

All these have resulted in drastic decrease of tiger population in Ranthambhore and complete elimination of tigers from Sariska in 2005.

The report said a slack, complacent, negligent and ineffective management team failed to enforce the basic forest and wildlife laws to render effective protection to the tigers and other major species.

One of the major reasons for decreasing tiger population has been the delay in registration and disposal of cases of poaching.

Scrutiny of offence register of Ranthambhore core revealed that out of 152 cases of poaching, including tiger poaching, only 82 were disposed of during 2000-06.

It was observed in Sariska that 37 cases of poaching (13 tigers and 24 leopards) were registered belatedly after seven to 48 months during 200-06. The trend of cases registered during 2001-05 showed that no concrete action was taken by the departmental authorities to control poaching.

UNI