New Delhi: The Union Environment Ministry
has proposed a hefty fine of Rs one crore, enhanced punishment
giving more teeth to enforcement agencies under the Wildlife
Protection Act to combat growing crimes relating to wildlife.
The amendments are in the final stage to be forwarded
to the Law Ministry for its consideration. It will be later
introduced in Parliament to pave the way for its passage.
Sources in the Ministry said that though the
existing Act had some provisions to curb hunting and trade,
the amendments focus on bustling illegal wildlife trade and
deterring unscrupulous dealers and traders from exploiting
flora and fauna covered by the Act.
With an aim to widen the ambit of the Act, various new
sections have been inserted with a major one being regulation
of Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species
(CITES) of Wild Fauna and Flora, banning trade in exotic
species.
Another salient feature is that for the first time the
wildlife offences, depending on the seriousness of their
nature and occurence, have been classified in four categories
as specified under new section 50 B inserted in the Act.
"Category I offences include the hunting, trade or
unlawful possession of the species such as tiger, lion, all
leopards, elephant, rhino, musk deer, all turtles and
tortoises, all bears, Tibetan antelope, all crocodiles....and
all other species of plants and animals listed in Schedule I
of the Act," the proposed amendment says.
Bureau Report
First Published: Tuesday, November 17, 2009, 00:05