Bill of wrongs

the Union ministry of environment and forests (mef) is about to drop a bombshell by tabling the Wildlife Protection (Amendment) Bill, 2002 in the ongoing session of parliament. Forestry and wildlife experts are at their wits' end, desperately trying to lay their hands on a copy of the bill. They are eager to know what has prompted the ministry to guard the bill from public opinion.

There are murmurs of dissent even among senior forest officers about the haste with which the bill is being introduced. While the director general (forests and wildlife) has categorically refused to divulge details, Down To Earth secured a copy of the document.

"An attempt to reform wildlife management in the country is a welcome step