THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: With an elephant-owner and a trenchant critic of the ‘Gajah’ report taking over as the new Forest Minister, Union Minister for Environment and Forests Jairam Ramesh will have a tough time pushing through with the implementation of the report, one of his pet conservation projects, submitted by the Elephant Task Force in 2010.One of Gajah’s main objectives is the phasing out of elephants from commercial captivity. Jairam Ramesh, while speaking at the ‘Elephant-8 Ministerial Meet’ in New Delhi on May 24, emphasised the importance of implementing the ‘Gajah Report’ to check the abuse of elephants which he said was high in states like Orissa, Chattisgarh, Jharkhand and Kerala.One of Gajah’s recommendations, on which Jairam Ramesh is showing urgency, is the creation of a National Elephant Conservation Authority (NECA) on the lines of the National Tiger Conservation Authority. Once the Authority comes into force, the elephant will be considered as sacrosanct as a tiger.New Forest Minister, K B Ganesh Kumar, is perhaps the bitterest critic of the ‘Gajah’ report.“I have told Jairam Ramesh that the report cannot be allowed to stand in the way of temple traditions. I am strongly opposed to impractical suggestions. And, having an elephant under my care, I know of far better ways than any recommended by the Gajah report to ensure the protection of elephants,’’ Ganesh Kumar said.Last year, when the report was accepted by the Centre, Kerala Elephant Owners’ Federation (KEOF) under the presidentship of Ganesh Kumar had taken out marches to DFO offices across the State. On November 8 last year, KEOF members burnt copies of the report in various districts such as Thrissur, Palakkad, Ernakulam and Kollam."I took over the presidentship of the federation with the sole intention of ending cruelty towards elephants. Ever since I became the president, incidents of elephant violence had come down,’’ Ganesh said.Three amendments recommended in the Gajah report to the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, has specifically enraged elephant owners led by Ganesh. The report wants Section 39 amended to include elephants under the definition of government property, including those in lawful possession of individuals and institutions. Deletion of sub-section (2) from Section 40 is the other amendment."Since all Schedule I and II animals are protected under Section 40 (2A), Section 40 (2) allows the transfer of elephants with permission of the Chief Wildlife Warden, thereby giving room for transfers in the guise of gift, donations and is discriminatory against the captive elephant as a Schedule I wild animal,’’ the report states.The report also wants Section 42 rewritten so that the term “Ownership Certificates” is substituted by the term “Guardianship Certificates.”This amendment, which will deprive owners of their rights, will go against the private interests of Ganesh Kumar, an elephant owner. Ganesh, in the affidavit filed before the Election Commission, has stated that he owns a tusker.
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