The government today admitted that there was "rampant" killing of tigers in the country and said the big cats have became locally extinct in Sariska and Panna Reserves mainly due to poaching.
"Tiger killing is rampant in India and smuggling of tiger skin is the second largest" after illicit trade in narcotics, Minister of State for Environment and Forests Jairam Ramesh said replying to a calling attention notice in the Rajya Sabha on the depletion of tiger population in the country.
The minister especially asked Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh, where Sariska and Panna reserves are located, to take stern action against poachers.
"Poachers have been arrested in Panna but no action has been taken against them. I request Madhya Pradesh government to prosecute them so that Panna can be a test case for other reserves where tiger population is diminishing," he said.
He also said that state governments cannot be left alone to conserve tigers. Important personalities representing various sectors should be given this responsibility, he said.
The Centre has initiated a programme to involve local communities in protecting tiger population and the first project, which started in Corbett Park in Uttarakhand, will be replicated in other reserves, if it is successful, he said.
Ramesh was hopeful that the project will be completed in next 5-6 months, in which the local 'Van Gujjar' tribes will be recruited as para police force.
Out of 37 tiger reserves, 16 are in danger zone and if steps are not taken now, the tiger population would be extinct there, Ramesh warned.
Observing that the tiger census methods, including pug mark counting, were "faulty", he said though the precise number of tigers was not available now, "it is estimated to be in the range of 1140-1600."
Ramesh favoured tiger census done by sampling method in every two years instead of the current practice of four years.
He also announced that the government would restore the Cheetah, which is extinct in India, by bringing the animal from abroad in the next few months. "We will have to bring Cheetah from aboard," he said.
The Environment Ministry has moved the Cabinet for setting up of a Green Tribunal for speedy disposal of wildlife related cases. The government will amend the existing law, if required, for stricter punishment against poaching, he said.
Seeking active participation of villagers residing within 37 tiger reserves for conservation of the big cats, Ramesh said the government has earmarked Rs 650 crore in the 11th Plan for Project Tiger.
Ramesh said the government has revised the Project Tiger scheme and increased the compensation amount from Rs one lakh to Rs 10 lakh per family who are being relocated from reserve areas.
Responding to a member's suggestion, the minister ruled out emulating the US or Chinese models in conservation of tigers. The Centre has set up a wildlife crime control bureau in the Environment Ministry to check poaching, he added.
Karan Singh (Congress), who was associated with the inception of Project Tiger in 1973, said that though the project was a success initially and the tiger population had reached 4,000 in the 1980s, it gradually started failing due to lack of political will.
"Even though more than 3,000 tigers have been killed in the country, not a single poacher has been jailed. There is massive connivance between poachers and forest officials. Unless there is no political will, no tiger would be saved," he said.
Rajiv Pratap Rudy (BJP) said people from all walks of life are ready to spare time to work for conservation of tiger but the government does not have a mechanism to involve them.
Moinul Hassan (CPI-M) wanted to know why the government is inserting micro chips in tigers.
R C Khuntia (Cong), Sharad Joshi (SBP), Kanjibhai Patel (BJP), Tiruchi Siva (DMK), Chandan Mitra (Nominated) and Najma Heptulla (BJP) also participated in the discussion.
