Himalayan Blue Sheep: States responsible for protection of wildlife: MoEF to NGT

The Ministry of Environment and Forests has told the National Green Tribunal that the Uttarakhand government was responsible for the management and protection of wildlife in the state, where the Himalayan Blue Sheep were suffering from an eye infection.

It submitted that the subject of forests and wildlife is included in the Concurrent List of the Constitution and, therefore, the state governments are responsible for implementation of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 and preservation of wildlife.

The ministry said that the states are responsible for checking and preventing disease in affected species in their national parks and wildlife sanctuaries.

"In order to promote effective and scientific management of the national parks, financial and technical assistance is being accorded to the states by the central government (MoEF) under the centrally sponsored scheme of Integrated Development of Wildlife Habitats.

"Over the past five years, it has released an amount of Rs 19.19 crore to the State of Uttarakhand, including the Gangotri National Park, under the scheme," it said in an affidavit filed before the tribunal.

The ministry said that one of the major components of the scheme was strengthening wildlife care by improving the veterinary facilities for health care of animals and for controlling diseases, including setting up facilities required for diagnosis of diseases.

The submissions were made in response to a plea filed by advocate Gaurav Bansal, who had contended that Himalayan Blue Sheep, locally known as 'bharal', were suffering from an eye infection in the Gangotri National Park.

The matter is scheduled to come up for hearing on May 16.

The tribunal had earlier directed the Uttarakhand government to submit an action plan to address the issue of eye infection among these animals.

Earlier, the Uttarakhand's forest department had filed an affidavit stating that blue sheep have been spotted with "symptoms of eye infection" and were having difficulty in movement in the Gangotri National Park.

The species live on high-altitude mountains mainly in India, Nepal, Tibet, Pakistan and Bhutan. Many Buddhist monasteries protect the bharals found around them. Their population faces threat of poaching for meat.

According to the plea, a group of BSF officers camping in Kedar Tal area of the park in September spotted several blue sheep with their eyes popping out and bleeding.

"One of the officer found several blue sheep with their eyes popping out or bleeding or eye socket empty. He took photographs of some of the infected blue sheep.

"The applicant also came to know that the BSF officer had informed the state forest department about the condition of the prevailing disease in the blue sheep, but it has failed to take proper measures to prevent and control the spreading of the disease," the plea had alleged.

It had said that according to the National Wildlife Action Plan, 2017-2031, issued by the environment ministry, the infectious disease was a concern not only to humans but to wildlife as well. It said the authorities were not taking action to protect the animals.

The petitioner has sought the setting up of a high-level team to inspect the Gangotri National Park and formulate an action plan for the conservation of the eco-system and bio-diversity of the ecologically sensitive area.