Politicians top in possessing endangered animal articles

[Guest guest]

 

Politicians top in possessing endangered animal articles

Aditi Tandon

Tribune News Service

 

Chandigarh, August 13

Top politicians and industrialists account for largest number of declarations of

animal skins/articles made from Punjab under Schedules I and part II of Schedule

II of the Wildlife Protection Act. A majority of them have also been issued

ownership certificates by the Punjab Wildlife Department.

 

Punjab Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh and his family share the distinction

of holding the biggest chunk of shahtoosh items declared from Punjab. Of the 651

shahtoosh items (shawls) declared from Punjab, close to 100 are said to be from

the CM’s family alone. Inherited from royalty, these items have been tested for

authenticity by the Punjab Wildlife Department which has issued ownership

certificates also.

 

Applications for declaration of shahtoosh and other animal articles like ivory

were reportedly received in the names of the CM, his wife Ms Preneet Kaur, son

Raninder Singh and his wife.

 

Of the total declarations made, shahtoosh accounts for the maximum - 651,

followed by ivory - 456; tiger skins - 25 and leopard skins -43. About 106 other

articles like trophies have been declared from Punjab.

 

In the category of shahtoosh, other prominent people who have been issued

ownership certificates include Chief Parliamentary Secretary, Youth and Sports

Welfare Mr Rana Gurmeet Sodhi, Food and Supplies Minister, Punjab, Mr Avtar

Henri, Rajya Sabha MP Ms Sukhbans Kaur Bhinder, formerly MP from Gurdaspur, and

also Kumari Selja, who, despite belonging to Haryana, has sent her declaration

to Punjab.

 

Top notch Ludhiana industrialists, mainly Oswals and Munjals, are also proud

owners of shahtoosh shawls, as well as other animal skins/items declared from

the state.

 

It may be mentioned here that illegal and undisclosed possession of articles

made from endangered animals protected under Schedules I and II of the Wildlife

Protection Act is an offence under the law. It is a non-bailable offence

punishable with three years imprisonment. Accordingly, the Government of India

gave people the last chance of declaring the above mentioned articles so that

their ownership can be legalised.

 

In Punjab, total declaration applications received till October 14, 2003, the

last date, were 452, of which only 284 cases have been processed and 125

ownership certificates issued. Officials maintain the verification of animal

articles is a lengthy process.

 

It is, however, noticeable that Punjab has not resorted to as foolproof a system

of checking animal articles as Haryana and Chandigarh. Punjab has not even kept

any fee for submitting declaration applications under the amnesty allowed by the

Government of India in 2003.

 

Haryana and Chandigarh have, contrarily asked for a fee of Rs 1000 and Rs 500

per application, respectively. They have used the money to purchase computer

chips which will be inserted in declared articles, post verification. Said Mr

Ishwar Singh, UT Chief Wildlife Warden, “The chip serves as the most authentic

identification mark and can’t be tampered with.”

 

Punjab, however, like Rajasthan and Himachal, chose to mark/stamp the declared

animal articles. Small wonder the department has received applications from

owners residing in neighbouring states.

 

 

http://www.tribuneindia.com/2005/20050814/punjab1.htm#9