The Centre’s move merging Project Tiger and Project Elephant is in contravention of the earlier decision of the National Board for Wildlife which had opposed such a proposal way back in 2011.
This has been pointed out by conservation activist Giridhar Kulkarni who said that proposal by the Planning Commission to merge three centrally funded projects – PT, PE, and Integrated Development of Wildlife Habitats – was shelved in 2011 as the members of the National Board for Wildlife (NBWL) had opposed and described it as a retrograde step. Besides, the NBWL had stated that such a move would adversely impact efforts to conserve wildlife and nature, said Mr. Kulkarni who has written to the Centre to rescind the merger order.
The merger has not only left the Forest Department officials divided over the wisdom of such a move but miffed conservationists on the grounds that it would dilute the focus of both the flagship conservation programmes.
