Raipur. There are two VIP forest buffaloes in Baranwapara Sanctuary of Chhattisgarh. These are hidden behind 7 curtains, which only VIP people can see. The government has spent more than Rs 1 crore 50 lakh for the feeding, maintenance and breeding of these buffaloes. But the purpose for which these buffaloes have been brought to Chhattisgarh from abroad has neither been fulfilled nor are these wild animals being allowed to roam freely.
In fact, on May 12, 2020, two two and a half year old sub-adult forest buffaloes, which were brought from Assam to the Baranwapara sanctuary of the state, were kept in the enclosure there for two months after being caught from the Manas Tiger Reserve of Assam, one was male and one was female. A budget of Rs 4 lakh 4,56,580 was given for the arrangement of water supply there. After this, when they were brought to Barnawapara, 6 new coolers were sent for them from Raipur, it was decided that if the temperature was not controlled, AC should be installed, green net was also installed.
crores spent on buffaloes
In 2023, four more female forest buffaloes were brought from Assam, then one lakh rupees were given for khus, on which the temperature was controlled by pouring water. A fence was constructed in Assam in the year 2020, the Forest Department does not have information about how much was spent on it. But in 2023, Rs 15 lakh was released for the maintenance of the same enclosure. In both the times, Rs 58 lakh was released for transportation of forest buffalo from Assam etc.
Zoo authority did not give permission for breeding center
One crore sixty lakh rupees were released for the construction and maintenance of the breeding center of Baranwapara from the year 2019-2020 to 20-21. Apart from this, more money has also been spent from 2021 till date. Despite all this, the Central Zoo Authority has also bluntly refused that we will not allow a breeding center in Baranwapara Sanctuary.
Serves food worth Rs 40 lakh in a year
Documents show that in 23-24 alone, Rs 40 lakh has been released for the food of 6 forest buffaloes in Baranwapara – gram, khari, chuni, para kutti, dalia, hay.
Know how to increase your lineage
Raipur’s wildlife lover Nitin Singhvi accused the Forest Department that the plan was to increase the population by bringing forest buffaloes from Assam and breeding them with the forest buffaloes of Chhattisgarh, but in Chhattisgarh there is only one pure breed male forest buffalo. ‘Chhotu’, who is old and at the last stage of his life, is left in the Udanti Sita-Nadi Tiger Reserve. His age is around 24 years. The maximum lifespan of forest buffaloes is 25 years, in captivity they can live for 2-4 more years.
When it was not possible to reproduce with Chhotu due to his old age, a plan was made to reproduce through artificial insemination by extracting his semen, for the preparation of which lakhs of rupees were spent. Singhvi warned that this would be as suicidal as forcing a 90 year old man to ejaculate, Chhotu could even die by doing so, for which the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests would be responsible.
It would be wrong to leave buffaloes in Udanti Sita River Tiger Reserve
Now if the forest buffaloes brought from Assam are released in the Udanti Sita River Tiger Reserve, then there are dozens of cross breed forest buffaloes there. Due to which the offspring of pure breed female forest buffaloes of Assam will not remain of the original breed. Therefore they cannot be left there either.
The plan was to keep the forest buffaloes hostage?
Singhvi alleged that from the very first day, according to the secret plan of the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife), he was to be kept hostage in Baranwapara Sanctuary for life. Therefore, they have been kept hostage in Baranwapara Sanctuary against the condition of the Government of India to release them.
Singhvi’s allegation is that now they will remain captive for life and will reproduce in the enclosure of Baranwapara, in which their gene pool will get spoiled due to continuous reproduction from the progeny of the same male.
Did forest buffaloes bring food worth Rs 40 lakh to the public?
Wildlife lover Nitin Singhvi asked the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife) in this matter that the forest buffaloes roaming freely in Assam were alive by eating natural vegetation and grass. If he had lived there, he would have raised his family amidst nature. Have they been brought to Chhattisgarh to provide them food worth Rs 40 lakh of the public’s hard-earned money every year?
Crores of public money wasted?
Singhvi asked that they were given only V.I.P. Why is only one buffalo allowed to be seen? When they knew that there is only one pure breed forest buffalo left in Chhattisgarh, which is old. Due to which the lineage will not increase, then why did crores of rupees of the public waste? What kind of atrocious thinking is this that forest department officials are getting pleasure from keeping an endangered mute animal roaming in the open as hostage for life?
How many crores of rupees were spent?
Singhvi has alleged that the forest department at its headquarters and the field director at Udanti Sita River Tiger Reserve, to whom the budget is allotted, do not have information about the amount spent on forest buffaloes in Assam and Baranwapara. Therefore, the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife) should issue a press release and inform the public about how many crores of rupees have been spent on the forest buffaloes brought from Assam till date.
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