SAMPLE LETTER (1)

regarding the tragic slaying of the Jhurjhura Tigress.

to

The President of India-copies to The Prime Minister & Chief Minister of M.P.

Smt. Pratibha Devising Patil, Her Excellency The President of India, Rashtrapati Bhavan, New Delhi-110-004, INDIA

Madam President

You are probably aware that on the 18 May 2010 at Bandhavgarh National Park a tigress known locally as Jhurjhura-the mother of three six month old cubs was mortally wounded by a vehicle driven into her and died the following morning from her wounds. Over one year has elapsed since this tragedy occurred and since then the killing of the tigress has been compounded by the death of one of her cubs.

Shortly after the tigress was killed the Member Secretary of the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) visited Bandhavgarh to investigate and report on the incident to the Minister of Environment and Forests.  This report contained certain recommendations including calling for an urgent CBI enquiry into the tragedy. However the State Government of Madhya Pradesh opted for an investigation by the CID and later the Special Task Force (STF) of the State police.

A number of prominent persons including a Forest Officer were in the vehicles that allegedly slammed into the tigress at night.  For this reason I am very concerned that the present STF enquiry will be prolonged and the matter eventually dropped without a criminal charge being brought against the perpetrators of this heinous crime that has been carried out to one of India's National Animals.  Below you will see an extract from the report prepared by the Member Secretary of the NTCA where he names the occupants of the two vehicles that stayed in the tiger reserve beyond the permitted park timings:-

 '10. It is reliably learnt from various people that the above 2 vehicles indicated at serial number 9 stayed beyond the permitted park timings and visited the in-situ enclosure at Baheraha (Magdhi Range) for viewing the tiger cubs housed in the same (which is not permitted). Further, the vehicles also went to the tigress spot at Tala and returned back via Bhadrashila barrier instead of the main gate, which is also cause for suspicion.

There is a strong indication (emerging out of the detailed interaction with local police and the Field Director) that the tigress was fatally hit by one of these vehicles.  The occupants in both these vehicles included the following persons:

a) Shri Akshay Kumar Singh, CEO Zila Panchayat, Umaria.

b) Lalit Kumar Pandey, Range Officer, Magdhi.

c) Dr. K.K. Pandey, Veterinary Assistant Surgeon, Tala.

d) A relative of Shri Akshay Kumar Singh and 3 children.

e) Shri ManSingh, Driver of Range Officer, Maghdi.

f) A driver of the vehicle used by the CEO, Umaria.

(It is learnt that Dr.K.K.Pandey owns a lodge named 'Tiger Heaven' and wields considerable influence in the area.  He was also present in the PM subsequently, and has provided his vehicle to the CEO, Umaria office on a contractual basis/arrangement.  He volunteered for bringing the post mortem report from Jabalpur, while using the same vehicle provided to the CEO, Zila Panchayat, Umaria.)'

I look forward to receiving your reply.

Yours respectfully and sincerely

Copy postal and email addresses:-

Dr. Manmohan Singh, The Hon'ble Prime Minister of India, South Block, Raisina Hill, New Delhi 1100111. INDIA (email:-pmosb@pmo.nic.in)

Smt. Jayanthi Natarajan, Minister of State, Ministry of Environment & Forests, C-1/9 Lodhi Gardens, Rajesh Pilot Marg, New Delhi 110003. INDIA  (email:-jayanthi.n@sansad.nic.in)

Shri. Shivraj Singh Chauhan, Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh, Shyamla Hills, Bhopal 462013, INDIA  (email:- cm@mp.nic.in)

_________________________________________________________________________________

Sample Letter (2)

regarding the illegal mining at Sariska Tiger Reserve

to

The Chief Minister of Rajasthan and copy to The Minister of State.

Shri. Ashok Gehlot, Hon'ble Chief Minister of Rajasthan, 8 Civil Lines, Jaipur, Rajasthan 302006, INDIA (email:- cm-rj@nic.in)

Copy to:-

Smt. Jayanthi Natarajan, Minister of State, Ministry of Environment & Forests,  C-1/9 Lodhi Gardens, Rajesh Pilot Marg, New Delhi 110003, INDIA

(email:- jayanthi.n@sansad.nic.in)

Dear Hon'ble Chief Minister

The Times of India reports in its edition of the 12 October 2010 that illegal mining is in full swing at Sariska Tiger Reserve, in spite of a Supreme Court directive in 1991 which succeeded in closing down 215 mines.

Three tigers have recently been relocated from Ranthambore National Park to Sariska and I understand more are to follow. The relocation of these tigers was at considerable cost and with a great accompanying fanfare, TV and political publicity. Why? If the tigers forests are going to be destroyed, if their prey base is going to dwindle and miners are openly going to flaunt the law under the very noses of officials-I repeat the question, why?  Why spend so much money reintroducing these tigers to Sariska if the government and forest department are not serious about ensuring their safety and putting Sariska back on the map as a prestigious tiger reserve?

This year is the year of the tiger.  We exploit them to gain considerable revenue through tourism.  The tiger provides for millions who would have abject lives if it were not for the tiger as villagers benefit from schools, hospitals, and electricity near the national reserves. We make the tiger the mascot for the recent Commonwealth Games. We call the tiger the National Animal.  What do we do to ensure that the tigers territory remains sacrosanct so that they can be safe to live and breed freely from the disturbances of mining and logging?

Illegal mining is blatently taking place in the areas of Jaisinghpura, Malana, Goverdhanpura, Palpura,and Jamwa Ramgarh.  In the villages Tiwad and Tilwadi mining is taking place on agricultural land.  Villagers and officials are being corrupted by mining bosses and the tigers are paying the price as their land and forests are being eaten away.

I beg the Supreme Court, the Government, the Forest Department to do their duty and clamp down ruthlessly on this illegal mining activity and start doing their duty for the tigers of Sariska and India.

The tigers are on the brink of extinction.  We cannot afford to be complacement and pretend that the situation is not serious. This complacency will cost a species its life, and once gone, it can never be replaced.

Future generations worldwide will wonder at the stupidity and lack of foresight of India today if we allow its most precious treasure to perish because of greed.

Pease STOP MINING IN SARISKA and all of India's tiger reserves.

I look forward to receiving your comments.

Yours sincerely and respectfully.

N.B. See above for email and postal address The Chief Minister & The Minister of State