October 18, 2009

West Bengal signs tripartite pact for tiger conservation

KOLKATA: After some initial objection, West Bengal government has signed a tripartite agreement with the Centre and the tiger reserves in the state for better conservation of the big cats. Subrat Mukherjee, field director, Sunderbans Tiger Reserve and his counterpart in Buxa Tiger Reserve R P Seni, who were authorised by the state government, signed an MoU with the National Tiger Conservation Authority yesterday.

Chief Wildlife Warden (wildlife) S B Mondol told PTI here today that earlier the state government signed an agreement with the Centre for tiger conservation. Now it has been replaced by the tripartite pact between the state government, NTCA and field directors of tiger reserves.He said the state had earlier opposed the signing of the pact, arguing it was not necessary as the state has a good record in conservation of the wildlife.

The state government will get funds following signing of the pact."Earlier also we got funds for tiger conservation. Since last year we had been requesting the Centre for increasing the quantum." Mondol said that the state had received Rs 1.5 crore last year from the Centre for conservation of tigers. This year the state had requested for doubling of the amount, he said.

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