While corridors, prima facie , could enable “tiger gene flow and elephant migration” to the ultimate good of wildlife protection, the proposals made by Karnataka (“ >Wildlife corridors: Karnataka to partner with firms ,” Sept. 22) seem to pose serious social problems. Acquisition of agriculture or revenue land for the purpose will naturally result in protests, and issues of compensation and rehabilitation. Relocating people, whether they possess lawful ownership or right by encroachment of the land, in the name of well-being of tigers and elephants, needs to be understood in its real spirit by villagers. A greater tragedy is the dependence on an investment of “several thousand crores” of corporate money and entrusting “long-term responsibilities” with the sector. One cannot expect the private sector to invest for the fun of breeding tigers and elephants in forests. Since an agreement is reportedly to be signed only by November, there is time to revisit the wisdom behind the idea.
P.R.V. Raja,
Pandalam, Kerala
