Panel asks govt to revisit all aspects of Wild Life Act

A parliamentary committee has asked the government to revisit all aspects of the Wild Life Act in a "holistic manner" and come out with a comprehensive legislation in this regard.
The suggestion has been made by the Standing Committee on Science and Technology and Environment and Forest in its report which was tabled in the Parliament today.
The report is on Wild Life (Protection) Amendment Bill, 2013. The Environment Ministry has decided to withdraw the bill.
"In view of the decision of Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change to withdraw the bill to undertake a comprehensive review of the present Act, the committee feels that no useful purpose will be served by examining the provisions of the existing bill.

"The committee, therefore, decided not to pursue the bill any further and recommends that the government may revisit all aspects of the Wild Life (Protection) Act 1972 in a holistic manner and come out with a comprehensive bill," the report said.
The government would undertake a comprehensive review of the Act after carrying out a policy dialogue for ensuring conservation of life forms, plants and animals with the ecosystems and habitats, besides comparing the current norms with corresponding laws of other countries.

The bill proposed to insert new definations in view of the amendments proposed in the Act, including providing for prohibition on use of animal traps except in certain circumstances, for grant of permit for scientific research, making provisions related to CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species) so as to control illegal international trade in wildlife, among others.

The Wild Life (Protection) Act 1972 provides legal framework for the protection of various species of wild animals, management of their habitat and also for regulation and control of trade in the products derived from various parts of wild animals.
The report said that the Environment Ministry has initiated steps to obtain approval from the Prime Minister for withdrawl of the bill as per rule 9.13 of the Mannual of Parliamentary procedures and action for seeking post facto approval of the Cabinet was also in progress.