A controversy is raging in Karnataka over a government notification naming the board members to the State Board for Wildlife (SBWL), where sitting Congress ministers’ children and MLAs have been accommodated. Wildlife experts call it politically motivated, saying the objective of setting up the board would be defeated with such a move.
Karnataka’s Forest Minister Eshwar Khandre disagrees. Speaking exclusively to News18, he said that one of the important ingredients for conservation is passion, and the selected candidates have shown passion, perseverance, and promise.
“It is unfair to call it a political move. One needs passion; these youngsters have shown that passion, motivation, and have taken efforts to learn about wildlife and forest conservation. So why not give them an opportunity? What is wrong with that?” asked Khandre.
The appointments of Karnataka’s Industries Minister MB Patil’s son Dhruv M Patil, Congress MLA and Karnataka Urban Water Supply and Drainage Board (KUWSDB) member Vinay Kulkarni’s daughter Vaishali Kulkarni as well as legislators like Ramdurg MLA Ashok Pattan, Gundlupet MLA HM Ganesh Prasad, and MLC Puttanna to the board have created quite a stir in conservation circles.
The aim of constituting the SBWL is to conserve, nourish, and safeguard wildlife and forests, and they have shown determination towards that, explained the minister, defending the move.
“They are not just photographers; they have two to three years of extensive work in studying animal behaviour. They would like to hone their skills and gain some experience,” he added, responding to the criticism that a majority of the nominated members have been either wildlife photographers or inexperienced individuals who have no real technical knowledge on the subject.
According to Section 6 of the Wildlife Protection Act, the board comprises the chief minister, the state forest minister, the state secretary to the government, three legislators, the forest department chief, the Chief Wildlife Warden, and 10 other eminent personalities and NGOs who have worked extensively in ecology and wildlife conservation. In this board, apart from the controversial names mentioned, heads of Bengaluru-based Wildlife Association of South India (WASI), Tigers Unlimited Wildlife Society, and Bengaluru Environmental Trust are part of the panel of NGOs.
The Forest Minister also added that the work of the board will be reviewed from time to time.
“Everything that they do will be documented, analysed, and reviewed. We must give way to new ideas or ways of conservation. They have some brilliant ideas; why not try and implement them? They have worked in forests in the country and visited sanctuaries abroad as part of their interest. They have chalked out a plan, and there is nothing wrong with trying something new. It will only help us grow better,” the minister said.
As part of the country’s special focus on wildlife conservation, the body that helps in this, the National Board for Wildlife (NBWL), is headed by the Prime Minister. A similar board at the state level is the SBWL, headed by the Chief Minister. In 2022, an amendment was brought to the Wildlife (Protection) Act, mandating state boards to constitute standing committees that would help in conservation management. This body is tasked with monitoring protected areas and keeping an eye on development projects from both government and private agencies to ensure that wildlife and forest regions remain protected and are not encroached upon in the name of development.
This is not the first time that the Siddaramaiah government has seen a controversy in this department. In 2009, cricket legend and avid wildlife conservationist Anil Kumble was made the Vice Chairman of the State Wildlife Board. When the Congress came to power in 2013, Siddaramaiah reconstituted the board and dissolved the post of vice-chairman, shunting Kumble out. This move was called a political manoeuvre, as Kumble was appointed by the previous BS Yediyurappa government, and the post, at the level of an MoS, was created for Kumble.
The Congress government then inducted Home Minister KJ George’s son J Rana George, to the board. Rana had, at the time, stated that he had been an active wildlife warden and was suited to the job. This political appointment also created quite an uproar at the time.
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