Govt’s dilly-dallying approach

15/03/2018

In blatant violation of provisions of Jammu and Kashmir Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1978, the Government has adopted dilly-dallying approach towards demarcation of majority of the wildlife protected areas in all the three regions of the State thereby leaving enough chances for their encroachment and shrinkage. Moreover, reorganization of the Wildlife Protection Department is not being taken seriously despite the fact that large number of posts are lying vacant during the past quite long time and creating impediments in conservation and protection of these natural assets. J&K Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1978 lays enough thrust on demarcation of wildlife protected areas comprising of National Parks, Wildlife Sanctuaries, Wetlands and Conservation Reserves so as to protect them from encroachments.
However, not much attention has so far been paid towards this provision of the Act as a result of which proper demarcation of only two National Parks and one Wildlife Sanctuary could be conducted till date and boundaries of 35 wildlife protected areas are yet to be clearly defined. As far as 12 Wildlife Sanctuaries are concerned, demarcation of only Rajparian (Daksum) Wildlife Sanctuary in Anantnag district has been completed while as demarcation of Overa Aru Wildlife Sanctuary also in Anantnag district is still under progress. As far as Ramnagar Wildlife Sanctuary is concerned, 50% area has been demarcated and rest is still under progress. Only 88 boundary pillars have been erected covering an area of 3.05 square kilometer of Jasrota Wildlife Sanctuary in Kathua district, which is having total area of 10.04 square kilometer. Similarly, only 44 boundary pillars have been erected covering an area of 1.52 square kilometer of Surinsar-Mansar Sanctuary which is having total area of 97.82 square kilometer. About Nandni Wildlife Sanctuary having an area of 33.34 square kilometer, the official document said that since additional area has been taken over and joint verification with the Forest Department is under progress, the demarcation will take time.
As far as Tata Kutti Wildlife Sanctuary in Rajouri district is concerned, demarcation process has yet not been started. According to the document, demarcation of Wangath (Ganderbal), Khiram (Anantnag), Achabal (Anantnag), Khangund (Pulwama), Shikargah (Pulwama), Brein Nishat (Srinagar) and Khimber (Srinagar) Conservation Reserves is still under progress. Not only the Wildlife Protection Department even Revenue Department is equally responsible for the prevailing situation as demarcation is required to be conducted by both the departments jointly.

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