SC Seeks inquiry on Sariska
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The Financial World
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New Delhi
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12 Apr 2012
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The Central Empowered Committee (CEC) of the Supreme Court has instructed the Rajasthan government to conduct an `appropriate enquiry` into the findings of a Tehelka report (Blasting the Tigers Away by Jay Mazoomdaar, April 6, 2012) and immediately stop work in Sariska tiger reserve. On April 9, Dr Dharmendra Khandal, a field biologist with Ranthambhore based NGO Tiger Watch, wrote to the CEC, and sought immediate intervention.
Earlier this week, Rajasthan forest minister Bina Kak held a meeting with too state forest officials and decided to stop work on six anicuts and complete the rest by the end of April. She did not clarify if the state government will drop its plan to pursue a fresh loan of 3 crore from NABARD to construct six more anicuts.
The CEC order, however, put ongoing construction works on all 22 anicuts inside the reserve on hold.
National Tiger Conservation Authority chief Dr. Rajesh Gopal has also asked the state government to hold an inquiry. "We will put a high- level panel in place to monitor the reserve in the future,” he said. The NTCA, it is learnt, is in the process of constituting a fact-finding team that will soon visit Sariska.
In its order the CEC wrote: "Immediate action may please be taken to ensure that no works are undertaken in violation of the provisions of wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 and or the orders of the sc and or which may cause disturbance/fragmentation of the habitat in Sariska tiger reserve.
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