Hon.
Chairman Sir, I rise here to support the Wild Life (Protection) Amendment Bill,
2022. The Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972 has been amended on various
occasions. In 2021, the Bill was introduced in the Lok Sabha. The Bill was
earlier discussed in the Rajya Sabha also. Then the Bill was sent to the
Standing Committee. After the recommendation of the Standing Committee, we are
discussing this Bill today. Since time is limited. I have to speak for a few
minutes only. I would like to give some examples. Animal protection100 is the call of the hour. Similarly,
global warming, climate change, and forest protection are the call of the hour.120 In many parts of the country, forests
are being destroyed like anything. Without forests, we cannot live. Today, the
world140 is facing the worst
problems from climate change and global warming. Looking at the situation, the
Government should take the160
strongest measures to protect reserve forests like anything. I would like to
tell you a sad news. Railway tracks are constructed in many parts of India
where there are elephant corridors. Very recently, three elephants were killed
near Guwahati while200 they
were trying to cross the railway track because there is an elephant corridor.
So, I request the Minister to look into it and discuss this situation with the
Railway Minister to protect the elephants. Secondly, I will talk about240 Kaziranga National Park. Sir, we can
pass this Bill today. But in the implementation of the Bill, the most important
role has to be played by the State Governments. All the State Governments have
to play an important role; otherwise,280
this Bill will not be implemented. Earlier, the Congress Party was ruling
Assam. Everybody knows that Kaziranga National Park is300 famous for one-horn rhinos. During the
Congress regime, rhinos were killed in Assam like anything. But the new
Government is320 in office and
now the Assam Government has taken strongest measures to stop elephant killing
in our State. Thirdly, I340
would like to quote one example. Again, I come to the elephant corridor. Construction
of hydroelectric power project is going360
on in the elephant corridor in Arunachal Pradesh. I am not against the dam but
protection of elephants is also important. I would request the hon. Minister to
look into this. One more thing is about dolphin. The Government of400 India proposed to have a dolphin park in
Arunachal Pradesh. Due to construction of dam, the dolphin park is also420 going to be put to damage. So, I would
make an appeal to the Government to look after these things. It is very
important. It is important to protect the forests and wildlife. It is our main
priority. There is one more thing. Nowadays, elephants lack food. Elephants are
facing a lot of problems due to lack of fields in forest regions. They come out
of the forests and also attack human beings. Sufficient funds should be
provided to protect480 the
elephants. With this, I support the Bill.
Hon.
Deputy Chairman, Sir, I thank you for giving me this opportunity500 to speak on this Bill. I am speaking in
support of the Bill. Wildlife is part and parcel of our environment. They were
respected and protected since time immemorial by our ancestors through
religious beliefs and customs. We are always taught to protect all the animals
and plants from childhood. We worship many animals and plants. After
Independence, this legacy560
was carried forward in our Constitution also. India is one of the 12 mega
biodiversity countries of the world, and out of 36 biodiversity hotspots of the
world, three are from India. We have many endemic and rare wildlife species.600 But, due to various reasons like
poaching, habitat loss, etc., our wildlife species are becoming rare and some
are on the verge of extinction. We have lost some species due to extensive game
hunting. In the recent past, the trade640
in the exotic animals has increased in the North East India. The smugglers in
the wet markets of Southeast Asian countries are using the North East as an
active transit route to supply end. To control the trade of these exotic
animals, the Wild Life (Protection) Amendment Bill is made to increase the
degree of protection to the Indian wildlife700
as well as for exotic wildlife. Sir, I must appreciate some of the highlights
of the Wild Life (Protection) Amendment720
Bill, 2022. The Bill has now reduced the schedules to four from earlier six
schedules which will740 help
in proper management and implementation of the Act. It also seeks to regulate
the possession of live animal specimens.
Mr.
Chairman, Sir, I thank you for giving me the opportunity to speak on this Bill.
Sir, I am supporting this Bill. Sir, the hon. Minister has brought the Bill
after referring it to the Standing Committee. The observations made800 by the Standing Committee have also been
taken into consideration and now he has brought the Bill. Sir, my honourable
friend has raised some issues and I have to reply to them. He is a very
intellectual man; I am840 not denying
that. First of all, he asked as to why this subject has come to the Concurrent
List from the State List. This is done as per the convenience of the Central
Governments. That is what has happened and because of this, the State
Governments are suffering. He said that the Chief Ministers do not have faith
in the900 Central Government. I
want to know why the Congress Government brought this State subject to the
Concurrent List. Now, I come to another important issue. Sir, the issue of
Jallikattu is an important cultural issue in Tamil Nadu. When my honourable
friend was the Minister, he included the 'bull' and everything in the list.
Now, we are facing a lot960 of
problems. Due to the steps taken by the hon. Prime Minister, we got the
exemption and then we could980
conduct Jallikattu because bulls were exempted. Sir, whichever Government comes
to power, it makes rules as it likes. You cannot1000 criticise this Government or that Government. Even
Pandit Nehru could not do it but Madam Indira Gandhi brought it. She only
brought the subject of 'education' into the Concurrent List from the State
List. Today, as far as NEET examination is concerned, we are suffering in that
regard. Sir, because 'education' was brought to the Concurrent List during the
Emergency period in 1976, we are suffering now. Therefore, please do not teach
us federalism. You1080 are
spoiling the federalism. This Government saved the federalism and we have to
appreciate this. I am coming to the1100
point. I want to make a request to the Minister concerned. Sir, the case
regarding Jallikattu is in the Supreme1120
Court. Please ensure that the Government comes forward and supports our State
Government which is already fighting for it. It is a cultural issue. I request
the Central Government to support us in the Supreme Court where the case is
going on and to protect the cultural interests of Tamil Nadu. There is one more
issue about elephants. They have mentioned about the amendments in this regard
whether it is a captive elephant or whether it is in the forest. Many1200 incidents are taking place because we have
done certain wrong things. There are cases of human beings killed by animals,
especially, the elephants. Do you wish to protect the human beings or not? Sir,
many innocent human beings have been killed by the elephants moving around. The
elephants are destroying the crops in the field. Who is going to give1260 the compensation for that? Elephants
have to be kept in the forest so that they do not enter the human1280 habitats. People are suffering due to
this. Therefore, I request the hon. Minister to see as to how he can1300 protect the human beings. Apart from
the animals, you have to protect the human beings. Once again, I would like to
say that in the name of federalism, many subjects have been taken to the
Concurrent List from the State List. These should go back to the State List.
Secondly, the issue of Jallikattu has to be considered favourably keeping in
mind the feelings of the people of Tamil Nadu. On the issue of elephants, once
again, I would say that many people have died and compensation is needed in
those cases. Let the Central Government and the State Government1400 come forward and protect the human
beings apart from the animals. Hon. Deputy Chairman, Sir, my first feeling was
to support this Bill. But now My honourable friend is opposing it. I am in the
middle now. I have one1440
simple request. I am not going to make a speech like some other hon. Members
have made. I hope that you will do some justice to us. I come from foothills of
Nilgiri. Every day we are facing elephant attack in my house. I request you to
give fund to our Government to have hanging solar fence. Our Divisional Forest1500 Officers tell us that there are no
funds for hanging solar fence. Please do something. We live there. I live
there. I also see elephants sometimes near my house. They come there. Please do
something for this human-animal conflict. I have to say one more thing. We are
taking care of wild animals. There are some wild animals in humans. You should
take care of them also.1565
