State Board for Wildlife

On Chief Minister Smt. Vasundhara Raje’s initiative, the Wildlife Institute of India is proposing to set-up a Captive Breeding Centre for the Great Indian Bustard(GIB) to save this state bird of Rajasthan from extinction.

The State Board for Wildlife discussed this issue in its meeting held at the CMO on Monday. The Board took several decisions on protection of forest areas and wildlife along with expansion of green cover in the state. The CM asked officials to study the Maharashtra model for arranging additional financial resources for conservation of wildlife.

The Chief Minister directed the Forest and Environment Department officials to make special arrangements for eradication of catfish in Keoladeo National Park of Bharatpur. She focused on developing green areas around the sanctuaries, protected areas and national parks. She further suggested to prepare plans to develop hilly terrains near the urban centres as green regions.

Smt. Raje asked the officials to remove encroachments on the government lands in and around the forest areas and ensure sanitation and cleanliness. She said that for this, the Forest Department should coordinate with the Local-self Government and Urban Development departments as well as partner with the local people.

The CM directed the officials to set-up an Executive Council to ensure timebound implementation and monitoring of the decisions taken by the Wildlife Board. In regard to rationalization of boundaries of the Desert National Park, she asked the officials to visit Jaisalmer and Barmer districts and submit a report within 15 days.

On the issue of damages to crops caused by blue bulls, the Board members suggested that Sarpanch be authorised to take decision at gram panchayat level. It was further decided that separate committees be set-up for protection and management of Wetlands as well the Closed Areas around the forest regions. They also resolved to prepare the state-level Wildlife Action Plan in tune with the National Wildlife Action Plan.

The members of Board suggested to give approval for installation of a second ropeway at Sunda Mata temple in Jalore district. This approval would be subject to the conditions suggested by the Forest Department. Similarily, the board gave its nod to the project of broadening the Sawai Madhopur-Shivpuri Road passing through Ranthambhore National Park. This approval would also be subject to a detail project report which assured conservation of the forest and the wildlife therein.

Minister of State for Forest & Environment Shri Rajkumar Rinwa, Member of Parliament Shri VP Singh, MLAs Shri Shrichand Kriplani, Shri Sushil Katara and Shri Man Singh Gurjar, Members of the Wildlife Board, Additional Chief Secretary Forest & Envrionment Shri NC Goyal, Additional Principal Conservator of Forest Shri GV Reddy, DG (Jail) Shri Ajit Singh, Principal Secretary Tribal Area Development Shri Khemraj and senior officers of various departments were present in the meeting.

Jaipur, 22 February 2016