State wildlife board to discuss tiger relocation, Melghat rail line today

Nagpur: Several members of the state board for wildlife (SBWL) have expressed resentment at the agenda and notes for Board’s 15th meeting at the eleventh hour.
While the meeting is slated for Friday afternoon, members were got agenda items and notes just 24 hours earlier. When TOI inquired with PCCF (wildlife) office at 5 pm on Wednesday, it was told agenda was yet to be finalized.PCCF (wildlife) is the member-secretary of the SBWL.
“If agenda was not ready a day ago, how a 123-page document was circulated the next day. As decided earlier too, the agenda should ideally be given to the members 15 days before the meeting so they are prepared with critical analysis of every issue. The board is not meant to simply clear projects without analysing issues,” said a section of members.
“How can we decide on any issue if we are not informed about it well in advance,” they asked.
Among the agenda items are controlling tiger population in Chandrapur district by way of translocating 50 tigers and neutering 20 males, upgradation of Akot-Khandwa railway line through Melghat Tiger Reserve (MTR), and laying of OFC cables and transmission lines.
TOI was first to report about translocation and sterilization of tigers, nod for which will be sought from SBWL before forwarding the proposal to NTCA.
The issue of Melghat railway line upgradation will once again figure in the meeting. While the railways is hell-bent on constructing the line through tiger reserve, chief minister Uddhav Thackeray, who also heads the SBWL, has already said ‘no’ to the proposal and has called for an alternative alignment.
“Rejection of the proposal by the state would lead to a legal battle as Centre has put the ball in state’s court now,” said conservationists.