The two people committee appointed by Ministry of Environment and Forest, Government of India visited Pench Tiger Reserve on Saturday 26th November to see the possibility of digging up the tunnel through core area of Pench National Park Maharashtra which is also a one of the important Tiger Reserves of this country.

Maharashtra Govt has sent the proposal of de-reservation of 4.56 Ha forest land of Pench National Park for digging up a tunnel of 2.88 km, having approach road to tunnel of 3.2 km length and 7 m. wide and for having a construction work on 2.24 ha forest land of compartment 528,529,531 of Pench National Park. This is for providing the water supply through Sagara Nalla for irrigation in a cluster of surrounding villages around PNP in Maharashtra.

Under the Chairmanship of Dr.Darshan Shankar who is Executive Director of FRLHT the other committee member Dr. Asha Rajvanshi of Wildlife Institute of India visited the Pench Tiger Reserve on Saturday. The committee met with PCCF(WL) Mr.B.Majumdar, Field Director Mr.Jarnail Singh to discuss the impacts of
this project on the Tiger Reserve. It is learnt that the committee visited the proposed tunnel site and saw fresh tiger and leaopard pugmarks as well as predators scat. The Committee also hold a meeting at Sillari where Irrigation department and the MLA who are pushing up the proposal had gathered some of the
beneficiaries from 8 villages surrounding to Pench Tiger Reserve who are going to get irrigation benefits.

MLA from Shiv Sena and another MLA from Congress who are persuading the project tried to convince the committee how the project will have no impact on the
PTR and how it will benefit the villagers.

However Kishor Rithe of Satpuda Foundation also met the committee and stated that the project will have serious impact on the core area of PNP Maharashtra and proposed Mansighadeo sanctuary.

Kishor Rithe explained that if Government of India recommend this proposal it will set a wrong precedence and more politicians and villagers will come forward to utilize remaining Nallas and providing them the water from existing Totaladoh (Pench) reservoir for irrigation. He handed over one letter to the
Chairperson Dr.Darshan Shankar which has noted that there are more than 30 such Nallas originating from Totaladoh reservoir, passing through Pench National
Park of Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh as the reservoir is spread on the forest land of both the states. “If the benefit of reservoir can be given to
these particular 8 villages the remaining villages surrounding to reservoir in Madhya Pradesh part will feel deprived from such benefits” write Satpuda
Foundation in this letter.

Kishor Rithe said in the press release that if MOEF, Government of India consider all such demands it will have severe impact on the biodiversity of PNP (MS &MP) and then we will have to rethink on the MOEF’s commitment whether they really want to protect Tiger lands of this country.

The committee is expected to submit its report to MOEF and then MOEF would put up the proposal to standing committee of National Board for Wildlife for their
permission. “However the proposal has to go to the Supreme Court (SC) as the project needs Tiger reserve land, we are relaxed as we are sure that the SC will go by the earlier orders issued and we also can then express our views there.” Says Kishor Rithe.

In a major victory for Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve, the Nagpur bench of the Bombay High Court directed on Friday 11th November 2005 to close down Durgapur Colliery of Western Coalfield Limited (WCL) with immediate effect. The High Court turn down prayers of the WCL to continue mining operations till 30.11.2005 and made it clear that unless mandatory permission of the Union Environment and Forest Ministry is obtained, no mining would be permitted within reserved forest areas.

A division bench consisting Justice Sharad Bobade and Justice P.S.Bramhe while issuing notices to the state Forest Department, and WCL directed the respondent WCL to stop open cast and underground mining operations at Durgapur Rayatwari Colliery and Lalpeth area.

The order was passed in a Public Interest Litigation(PIL) filed by Kishor Rithe of Nature Conservation Society (NCSA) against the continuation of mining operations at Durgapur Colliery in blatant violation of Forest Conservation Act 1980 and Forest Conservation Rules. According to petitioner society NCSA the land was acquired by the Central Government on August 4, 1979 under Coal Bearing Areas Acquisition and Development Act 1957. A total 338 ha area situated in reserve forest was acquired for open cast mining activities. Of these 338-hactare land, 172 hectare land was used for open cast mining popularly known as Durgapur Rayatwari Colliery. The petitioner submited that till the year 1981 the land remained in possession of the State Govt. The 40.46 H.R . portion of the land handed over to the MD WCL.

The area of 125.83 Hectors to the eastern side of this open cast mine was maintained as safety zone, this is apart from 40.46 Hectors of land handed over to the WCL as early as on 23.05.1980. However, a small portion of about 6.2 hectors of land to the south of the open cast mine was used for inching operation and for digging underground tunnel. This portion of the land is described as Durgapur Rayatwari Collieries No.4 (DRC No.4). This shows that the WCL started underground mi ning in 6.2 ha land and went outside the 172 ha and dig up around 126 ha reserve forest underground to excavate the coal and reached near Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve. According to WCL around 2500 tonnes coal was mined from the underground and open cast mines per day for last 26 years.

Petitioner society claimed that no prior permission of the central Government was obtained under section 2 of the Forest Conservation Act. Even the Govt. of India has clarified that prior permission is a must for carrying on any underground or open cast mining operation inside forest area. All these lands were handed over to WCL in 1981, the petitioner society claimed and charged the WCL with continuing illegal
mining activity for last 23 years.

Hon High Court had initially rejected the plea of WCL and issued an interim order on 19 th January 2005 to stop mining operations. Later on WCL brought the Temporary Working permission (TWP) on 2 nd February 2005 for the period of six months from MOEF and High court had vacated an interim order on 1.4.2005 regarding stoppage of working of the mine. HC had also directed WCL to get the clearance form MOEF u/s 2 of FC Act1980 before 31st July 2005.

However the period of TWP was over in July 2005. Meanwhile MOEF had granted an approvel "in principle" for diversion of 1172.74 ha forest land for mining purposes by the letter dated 21.7.2005 and had asked WCL to also pay NPV for the said diversion. The WCL counsel Adv.Suresh Mehadia pointed out that as the MOEF had asked WCL to deposit 83 crore Net Present Value (NPV) for the prescribed mining operation and as WCL had curtailed down the area and now Forest department need some time to calculate the new NPV. So the HC had given an extension up to 30.11.2005 which means that the time was also extended for conducting the mining operations.

Meanwhile Forest department had called upon WCL by the letter dated 20.10.2005 to stop the working of mine on the ground that TWP is expired. So the affidavit was filed by WCL requesting HC to allow them to work the mine till 30.11.2005.

The counsel for Forest department Adv Deshpande stated that the MOEF had issued an order (on the orders from the Supreme Court) to state to close down the mines running on simply temporary working permission (TWP) without getting mandatory clearance from MOEF.

While hearing WCL and Forest Department, Hon. High Court passed an order to stop mining operations as the period of TWP is over and WCL has not acquired clearance under FC Act 1980 and EP Act 1986. Adv. Mukesh Samarth appeared for NCSA. Adv. S.C.Mehadia (WCL), Adv. Satish Deshpande (Forest Department) represented the respondent authorities.

Distressed by the reports of tigers missing from Sariska, Delhi kids formed the Junior Tiger Task Force, which comprises 12 children who are part of Sanctuary's Kids for Tigers, was formed with the objective of saving and protecting the tigers on behalf of a million children of India.

The Junior Tiger Task Force represents the 12 Kids for Tigers' cities, namely in Amravati, Bangalore, Chennai, Dehradoon and Mussorie, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Mumbai, Jabalpur, Nagpur, Indore, Patna and Sawai Madhopur.

The JTTF has prepared a report on the tiger reserves and national parks bordering their cities and the problems they face. They recently met up with the Tiger Task Force set up by the government as well as with Valmik Thapar to discuss solutions for saving the tiger and are now striving to spread awareness in their schools and neighbourhood.The Delhi core force has also raised funds to provide facilities and equipment needed by the forest guards to protect the forest. This included putting up a lemonade stall, creating and selling posters and paintings, washing cars from which they managed to collect a large amount in one day itself.

...without a vision a dream is not complete. This is our world. We respect, but are not bound by the baggage of history. We have a conscience. We are awakened. Let it be known: We want tigers saved forever. We want dignity for true forest dwellers and will not allow them to be misused as conduits for commerce by urban businessmen. We do not want city people invading our forests for timber, minerals. Our forests are our water banks, the sources of our inspiration, culture and genius. Leave our forests in peace and all creatures will repair past damage. The tiger has no time for experiments in survival.
– Manifesto of the Junior Tiger Task Force (JTTF)

Kids selected for “Junior Tiger Task Force” From Amravati and Nagpur

NAGPUR:

Lakshminarayan Iyyer (16 years) from Saraswati Vidyalaya
Vatsalya Mathur (14 years) from Kendriya Vidyalaya, Ajni


AMRAVATI:

Gargi Pande (9th std) from Bhawarilal Samra High School
Gaurav Burange (9th std) from Saint Thomas High School