Tiger deaths at M.M. Hills: DCF and two officers suspended

Environment Minister Eshwar B. Khandre has recommended the suspension of three officers for dereliction of duty and negligence in the case of the unnatural death of five tigers — a mother and her cubs — in the M.M. Hills Wildlife Sanctuary in Chamarajanagar district of Karnataka on June 26.

The three officers are Deputy Conservator of Forests Chakrapani Y., Assistant Conservator of Forests Gajanana Hegde of M.M. Hills Wildlife Division, and Range Forest Officer-cum-Surveyor Madesh.

On June 30, the three officers were sent on compulsory leave until further notice.

The Minister, who received and reviewed the preliminary report of the high-level inquiry committee headed by Additional Chief Principal Conservator of Forests Kumar Pushkar, made this recommendation to suspend the trio to the Department of Personnel and Administrative Reforms.

A Forest Department order, which had asked the three officers to go on leave, had said that non-payment of salary and allowances to the frontline outsourced staff had hampered the patrolling in the area where the death of the five tigers occurred.

According to a statement from Mr. Khadre, though money was released by April-end to pay the salary and allowances to the frontline outsourced staff, not paying them till June is a dereliction of duty on the part of the Deputy Conservator of Forests, which has caused setbacks in the patrol work.

The outsourced staff had protested on June 23 over not being paid since March.

“It is apparent that the frontline staff was evading duty due to non-payment of salary on time,” Mr. Khadre said.

According to the preliminary investigation report, the cause of death of the 11-year-old tiger and her four cubs, aged 10 to 11 months, was due to a chemical compound sprayed on the carcass of a cow that was attacked and killed by a tiger.

“It is observed that for an area of 147.99 sq. km, we have only seven posts of beat forester filled against the sanctioned strength of 21, and only one forest watcher post is filled against the sanctioned strength of seven. There is a serious shortage of frontline staff to carry out protection duties effectively. Based on the above facts, the frontline staff cannot be blamed for negligence or failure in their duty, leading to the death of five tigers. However, a detailed analysis of M-STRIPES and patrol data will give a clearer picture of the regularity of patrolling,” the preliminary report stated.

Forest officials have arrested three persons who were allegedly directly involved in the case.

Mr. Khandre said the officers have completely failed to monitor and have shown negligence in their basic duty of forest protection.

Apart from suspending the three officers, he also instructed the authorities to conduct a departmental inquiry. Mr. Khandre has also directed that the final report of the committee be submitted by July 10.