Wild Life Bill gets RS nod

NEW DELHI: In a major step to check fast dwindling population of the national animal, the majestic Royal Bengal tiger, the Rajya Sabha today passed the Wild Life (Protection) Amendment Bill to pave the way for setting up a statutory National Tiger Conservation Authority.

The Bill was passed by voice vote amidst din with BJP members trooping to the the well chanting 'Vande Mataram'.

They were not protesting against the Wild Life legislation, but were urging that countrymen should respect the national song. The legislation was passed with as many as 27 amendments, including three to four proposed by Left parties, to make it tribal-friendly.

The Left parties, which initially were opposed to the Bill asserting it was in direct conflict with provisions of yet to be finalised Tribal Bill, did not oppose it at the passage stage.

Minister for Environment and Forests A Raja's brief reply was drowned in slogan-shouting by protesting BJP members.  He, however, did not touch on some points raised by members that setting up of a Statutory Tiger Conservation
Authority would force states to comply with its orders.