Master plan on elephant reserves just a coverup

Newindpress.com August 5 2007 BHUBANESWAR: Faced with criticism for withdrawing proposals of two new elephant reserves, the State Government has tried to put up a brave face by going on record that it had already prepared a master plan to protect the jumbos. The plan, according to Forest Department, has been placed before the Centre for its approval. There is, however, more to it than meets the eye. The Rs 52-crore master plan that the Forest Department is talking about now is actually an Elephant Management Plan the Wildlife Wing had prepared in December last year. Then, the plan had been tabled before the State Government for perusal but it apparently took no interest. A week after this paper reported how the State Government accorded priority to mega industrial projects ahead of elephant protection, the move for master plan has only exposed its double standards. For the full story click on the blog title