Legacy of the past:
We have inherited the system created by the British that served their purpose. The British viewed our forests as a resource to plunder. Timber extraction was one of their primary aims. They also cleared vast tracts of virgin forests and set up teak plantations.

Lovely tracts of dense shola forests were cleared up for setting up tea and coffee and orange plantations in the South. There were similar stories in other parts of the country. They taught our foresters to view forests from the same exploitive perspective. Unfortunately, our foresters continue the same mindset even after the British have left.

It is important that the foresters are trained to do scientific management of our forests rather than acting as timber merchants.

Restructuring required in MoEF:
 The MoEF has to be first split and the cadre managing the forests should be separated from the environment wing. In the last decade and half the MoEF has shown scant concern for environment and has cleared projects with huge environmental foot prints. It has also come to light that interested parties (for eg persons in the board of NHPC, mining companies have been members of the Expert committee and most likely clearing the same files)

 CNN-IBN had reported that M L Mazumdar, chairperson of the Additional Expert Committee, which looks at approvals of mining projects in the country, is also on the board of directors of four mining companies.

 Shockingly, all projects applied for by these four mining companies have got approval from the Ministry of Environment and Forests. Mazumdar sits on the board of Uranium Corporation India Ltd, which has had five projects cleared since 2006.

 RGB Minerals, another company Mazumdar is part of, has had one project cleared. Adhunik Metaliks has had 10 projects cleared.

 Hindustan Dorr Oliver Ltd, the fourth company, provides services to most mining companies applying to the Ministry for clearance.

 Infact, the Hon’ble Minister for MoEF Shri Jairam Ramesh has been quoted as saying that the MoEF has been acting like a clearing house for large projects. It is good that realisation is there at the top.

 Similarly, the director of NEERI (National Environment Engineering Research Institute) which did the EIA (Environment Impact Assessment) for the Numaligarh Refinery near Kaziranga, was soon made the Chairman of the Expert committee that was asked to approve the project in ‘89-‘90. And there are many more similar examples.

Appraisals:
 The forest department has a crucial role to play in saving the tiger and other flora and fauna. Objective appraisals seems to be a good idea.

Short term Conservation Service
 I liked the idea of Short term Conservation Service. It would help in roping in people from other walks of life who are engaged in other jobs for a living but nevertheless have passion and ideas for conservation. They are likely to act like a whiff of fresh air and are likely to stimulate our moribund conservation efforts. The Government has started taking its tentative steps for eg. bringing in Nandan Nilekani to head the Unique Id scheme. It is now limited at the top. That idea has to be expanded and brought down as a short term service level.


 I agree that there should be more powers with the local officers. Our present system of prosecution has failed. Special courts and powers seems to be a good idea.


 Cheers,
 Sabyasachi