The Hindu : Front Page : Centre planning wildlife crime bureau, says Raja

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Mar 13, 2006

Front Page

Front Page

Centre planning wildlife crime bureau, says Raja

R.K.Radhakrishnan

It will be a statutory body like the Narcotics Control Bureau

Union Environment Minister A.Raja

CHENNAI: The Union Environment Ministry is setting up a wildlife crime bureau to ensure better protection of wildlife.

An Indian Police Service officer of the rank of Director-General of Police will head the force, Union Environment Minister A.Raja told The Hindu here on Sunday. "The Additional Director-General of Wildlife will be the deputy chairman. A representative from the Customs will be the vice-chairman. This will be a statutory body like the Narcotics [Control] Bureau and the CBI... Their duty is to investigate any wildlife-related offence. Once we name the culprits, the State Governments should prosecute them."

With headquarters in New Delhi it would have regional units. The proposal has been sent to the Law Ministry for approval.

Clearance of projects

Following the hue and cry from the construction industry over the stipulation of environmental clearance for projects costing over Rs.50 crore or which generate 50,000 litres of sewage, the Ministry was examining the possibility of reframing rules.

This could be done in two ways. One, the limit could be increased from Rs.50 crore to Rs.100 crore. "Instead of 50,000 litres of sewage, we could make it one lakh. Two, to a certain extent, we can delegate the powers to the State Government," he said and added that the rule would stay because Town Planning Acts across the country said nothing on Environment Impact Assessment.

Vulnerability line

On the Coastal Zone Management Plan that would replace the Coastal Regulation Zone, he said the draft rules would be put up on the Ministry's website next week. Over the next 60 days people and non-governmental organisations could send in their suggestions. After this, the Cabinet would approve it. "The main objective is to draw up a vulnerability line. Now it is mechanically said in the Act [any development should be beyond] 500 metres from the sea... in a place like Chennai this is essential. But, in Kochi this is not required.

Asked if this would lead to criticism that the Ministry was merely trying to relax the CRZ regulations, he said it was not relaxing them in sensitive places.

"I am aware that we will face such criticism... But in some places, the vulnerability line could also increase the area where no development should take place."

Mr. Raja rejected the criticism that Union Ministers from Tamil Nadu had done precious little for the State. Of the Rs.5,000 crore for the National River Conservation programme, Tamil Nadu was given Rs. 1,200 crore.

"Also, I have sanctioned Rs.12 crore for the third phase of the Chennai waterways project."

Aid for forest cover

Tamil Nadu was one of the few States to receive aid to increase forest cover. It got Rs.600 crore. This project will go on for another three years.

On plans to introduce buses run on CNG in Chennai, he said that he was talking to the Petroleum Ministry.

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