Idle activists
Experts from non-governmental organisations (NGOs) have proved to be as lax as other bureaucrats. At the 32nd meeting of Project Tiger's steering committee, held on August 26, members pointed out that the experts detailed to carry out a review of Project Tiger areas were to have completed the task by April. However, of the 10 NGO representatives assigned the task, only Erach Barucha and Bitto Sahgal have submitted their reports, on the Bandipur and Corbett tiger reserves respectively.
Barucha says that the park management plan is outdated and that a highway running through the park disturbs the core area. Sahgal, on his part, recommends developing Corbett's buffer area.
The meeting, which was attended by field directors of Project Tiger reserves, officials of the ministry of environment and forests, and tiger experts, discussed anti-poaching measures, such as collaborating closely with state police forces and authorising forest officials to use firearms. Members also discussed the cost of implementing the Tiger Action Plan, which was unveiled a year ago but is yet to take off mainly because of financial hurdles.