New Delhi: Parliament on Friday passed the Wildlife (Protection) Amendment Bill, 2006 that paves the way for creation of a National Tiger Conservation Authority and a separate statutory body for investigating wildlife crimes.
"The Bill envisages setting up a National Tiger Authority for the first time in the country. Also, a separate investigative body would be set up for the first time," Minister for Environment and Forest A Raja said while replying to the debate on the Bill.
The Bill, which received the Rajya Sabha nod on August 22, was passed by Lok Sabha by a voice vote on Friday.
Members from Opposition parties, including the BJP and BJD, objected to the provision that gave powers to Gram Sabhas to fix core areas of tiger reserves.
BJD's Tathagata Satpathy opposed the Bill saying "it was a shame" to bring it in the present form.
He said there was need to protect tigers as their destruction would mean disturbing the ecological balance that nature had created.
BJP's Maneka Gandhi termed the legislation as "the worst Bill since 1947" and blamed the amendments made to it for that. "This bill will kill tigers," she said.
She objected to powers being given to Gram Sabhas for deciding on core areas of a reserve and sought to know whether the government had fixed any time-frame for notifying core and buffer areas.
Bikram Keshari Deo (BJP) said the government was passing the legislation in a hurry and should have adequately debated the Bill.
Vijayendra Pal Singh (BJP) also opposed the Bill and said why had the Centre not released finances for relocation of villagers from reserves.
BJP's Dushyant Singh said the amendments had diluted the Bill and objected to formation of various authorities.
The Minister denied the Bill was being diluted and assured members that the government would take all steps to protect tigers.
Even the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources has praised the government and Project Tiger for the measures adopted to protect the wild cat, he added.
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