Stop diverting forest funds: Activists tell minister

A group of forest right activists have asked environment minister Jayanthi Natarajan to stop diversion of forest funds for relocation of people from tiger areas claiming it to be in violation of rules.

A group of forest right activists have asked environment minister Jayanthi Natarajan to stop diversion of forest funds for relocation of people from tiger areas claiming it to be in violation of rules.

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The National Tiger Conservation Authority had approved a proposal of diversion of Rs 1,000 crore for the next five years from Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA) for relocation of people from critical tiger habitats.

In a letter to the minister, the activists from 22 non-government organizations opposed the move and said the relocation of people from tiger reserves should be stopped till detailed investigation on the ongoing violations in the relocation process is undertaken and corrective steps are initiated.

They also asked the ministry to come out with detailed guidelines for man-animal co-existence in protected areas and ensure that Forest Rights Act is fully implemented.

They also said the concept of co-management of tiger reserves by people and forest department had not taken off. The guidelines for critical wildlife habitats are lying in cold storage since 2011, they said.