Plan to involve World Bank in tiger conservation shelved

Giving in to pressure from conservationists, environment minister Jairam Ramesh has shelved his ambitious plan of involving the World Bank in the country's tiger conservation programme.
   
"Personally, I was very keen that the World Bank should help us in providing funds, at least for ensuring livelihood for villagers living on the fringes of the tiger reserves so that they do not try to return to their original habitat (reserves).
   
But because of reservations of wildlife experts and officials I have shunned the plans. In a nutshell, no aid from World Bank," Ramesh told reporters at a function here.
   
The minister was keen that World Bank provide financial aid for improving livelihood security in a couple of states and in fact he had announced possible pilot projects in Rajaji National Park in Uttarakhand, Kanha in Madhya Pradesh, Nagarhole in Karnataka and Kaziranga in Assam.
   
Though Ramesh refused to elaborate on the reasons for rejection of the proposal, sources said that at a meeting chaired by Ramesh today, experts cited Bank's track record in implementing eco-projects in protected areas.
   
Tiger expert, Belinda Wright, while welcoming the move, alleged the World Bank has not been able to instill confidence on its conservation programme taken up in the past as its eco-development projects had adversely affected tiger habitat.