Karnataka Forest Minister Eshwar Khandre added that the work of the wildlife council will be reviewed from time to time. (X/@eshwar_khandre/File)
Speaking to News18, Karnataka Forest Minister Eshwar Khandre defended the appointment of Congress ministers’ children and MLAs to the state wildlife council. He disagreed with the view of wildlife experts that the appointment was politically motivated
Controversy is raging in Karnataka over the government’s notification naming the board members to the State Board for Wildlife (SBWL), where the children of Congress ministers and MLAs have been accommodated. Wildlife experts cited political motivation, saying the purpose of setting up the space would be defeated by the move.
Karnataka Forest Minister Eshwar Khandre disagreed. Speaking exclusively to News18, he said one of the essential ingredients for conservation is passion, and the selected candidates have shown passion, perseverance and promise.
“It’s not fair to call it a political movement. One must be motivated; this young man has shown passion, motivation, and has taken efforts to learn about wildlife and forest conservation. So why not give people a chance? What’s wrong?” asked Khandre.
Appointment of Karnataka Industries Minister MB Patil’s son Dhruv M Patil, Congress MLA and Karnataka Urban Water Supply and Drainage Board (KUWSDB) member daughter Vinay Kulkarni Vaishali Kulkarni as well as legislators like Ramdurg MLA Ashok Pattan, Gundlupet MLA HM Ganesh Prasad, and MLC Puttanna for the Board has created quite a stir in conservation circles.
The purpose of forming the SBWL is to conserve, nurture and protect wildlife and forests, and they have shown that determination, the minister said, defending the move.
“They are not just photographers; they have two to three years of extensive work to study animal behavior. They want to sharpen their skills and gain experience,” he said, responding to criticism that the majority of nominated members are wildlife photographers or inexperienced people who lack knowledge the real technicality of the matter.
According to Section 6 of the Wildlife Protection Act, the council includes the chief minister, the state forest minister, the state secretary, three legislators, the head of the forest department, the Chief Wildlife Warden, and 10 other prominent figures and NGOs. has worked extensively in wildlife ecology and conservation. In this space, apart from the controversial name, heads of Bengaluru-based Wildlife Association of South India (WASI), Tigers Unlimited Wildlife Society, and Bengaluru Environmental Trust were part of the NGO panel.
The Forestry Minister also added that the work of the council will be reviewed from time to time.
“Everything they do will be documented, analyzed, and reviewed. We must give way to new ideas or conservation methods. They have some brilliant ideas; why not try and implement them? They have worked in the forests of the country and visited sanctuaries abroad as part of their interests. They have made 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 chaired by the Prime Minister. The equivalent body at the state level is the SBWL, headed by the Chief Minister. In 2022, an amendment was brought to the Wildlife (Protection) Act, ordering the state council to become a standing committee that would assist in conservation management. This agency is tasked with monitoring protected areas and overseeing development projects from government and private agencies to ensure that wildlife and forest areas remain protected and not disturbed in the name of development.
This is not the first time that the Siddaramaiah government has faced controversy in this department. In 2009, cricket legend and avid wildlife conservationist Anil Kumble was appointed as the Deputy Chairman of the State Wildlife Board. When the Congress came to power in 2013, Siddaramaiah reconstituted the council and abolished the vice-chairman’s post, leaving Kumble behind. This move is said to be a political maneuver, as Kumble was appointed by the previous BS Yediyurappa government, and the post, at the MoS level, was created for Kumble.
The Congress government then inducted Home Minister KJ George’s son, J Rana George, into the council. Rana had, at the time, stated that he had been an active wildlife warden and was suitable for the job. This political appointment also created a stir at the time.