NEW DELHI, JULY 10
The Forest and Environment Ministry has notified the final draft of the bill for some 30 amendments in the Wild Life (Protection) Act that includes rigorous and stringent penalties on wildlife crimes.
Pointing out that the current provisions of penalties have been ineffective with no deterrent effect, one of the amendments prescribes higher penalties for trade in wildlife articles by treating it as a serious crime.
The ministry sources said the final draft is based on numerous suggestions received from various stake holders and it will be now put before the National Board of Wildlife to be constituted before it is brought before parliament for amending the act.
The new penalties proposed will also apply to the owners or occupiers of the premises used to commit any offence under the act. This was felt necessary to ensure that any person allowing use of his premises for unlawful purposes does not go unpunished.
Yet another proposed amendment will allow the courts to take cognizance of the offences under the act on the report of the police officers under the Criminal Procedure Code as otherwise the present law require courts to act only on the complaint of the certain specified officers.
Electrocuting is also sought to be included in the definition of hunting of wild animals while manufacture, sale and use of leg hold traps is sought to be banned as the present act prohibits possession of such traps only inside the protected areas.
Yet another amendment is proposed to redefine “wild animal” by changing the present definition as any animal specified in Schedules I to IV and found wild in nature. The new definition replaces the word “and” with “or” to make it clear that it applies also to the animals that may not be found in wild but kept in captivity as their hunting too would attract harsh punishment.
While the act bans use of chemicals, explosives or other injurious substances in a sanctuary, the new amendment will also include equipment like bulldozers, chainsaws and other machinery in the list of the injurious things banned in a sanctuary. For better protection of the national parks, the provisions of sanctuaries have been extended to them as well.
Yet another amendment seeks to cover specified plants whether picked, uprooted, kept or dealt with or sold as government property that cannot be acquired, transferred or destroyed by any person, without prior permission of the chief wild life Warden. Seized wild animals and all their parts become the government property while the new amendment also provides for seizure of vehicles used in the crime.
