Recently on the 23rd of February a group of more than 100 fishermen, in 40-50 fishing boats, descended in the Totladoh Reservoir located inside the Pench Tiger Reserve in Maharashtra. This group was confronted by the Special Tiger Protection Force (STPF) and the Forest Guards of the Pench Tiger Reserve, at the time these fishermen encircled the boats of the STPF and attacked them with stones, petrol bombs and dynamite sticks. In an act of self-defence the STPF fired in air several rounds from their firearms for self-protection, even after this the Fishermen were not deterred and kept on attacking the STPF, so as an last alternative the STPF personnel were forced to fire directly at the erring Fishermen, as a result one Fisherman was hit and died, while a few others were injured.

Upon this action, the Fishermen re-grouped with additional resources and entered the Core Area of the Pench Tiger Reserve and burnt four STPF Patrolling Boats, damaged and burnt Protection Huts and Staff Quarters used by the STPF and other Forest Guards. Un-satisfied by these acts, the Fishermen resorted to causing a road block on National Highway No. 7 (the entrance to the Pench Tiger Reserve) and resorted to damaging several vehicles on the highway and in addition damaging property in a nearby village.

This is not the first time such an incident has taken place. A similar incident had happened a few years back in January 2012 in Pench Maharashtra and at the time also, there was severe loss of property belonging to the Forest Department. Similarly, in mid-February, a team of Forest Staff doing rounds as part of protection activities in Pench (Madhya Pradesh) were attacked by these Fishermen and badly injured them, while condition of one of the Guards is still serious and he is still undergoing treatment in Hospital. So also, it is not the last, unless mitigating measures are taken to provide alternate solutions are provided by the Government of the day, to ensure livelihood to the locals and in the process protect Natural History and Environment of the pristine forests of the region.

It is pertinent to point out that, the practice of illegal fishing inside the Totladoh Reservoir has been the cause of immense disturbance to Wildlife inside the National Park. Official records show that, between 1992-96 eight Tigers and sixteen Leopards had been poached in Pench Tiger Reserve. In the past between 1992-96 there have also been large number of poaching cases reported on the herbivores like Chital and Sambhar,  apart from the aquatic life, the variety of amphibians like crocodiles and turtles found in the reservoir also face the threat of being wiped out from the area due to the massive indiscriminate illegal fishing activity. The disturbance to the Park and its inhabitants was caused by various factors.

The Fishermen formed a consortium and challenged the Ban on Fishing by approaching the Court of Law and demanding access to the reservoir through a number of illegal routes connecting their villages and the reservoir, which incidentally passed through the Core Are of the Pench Tiger Reserve. But, the Hon’ble High Court had banned fishing activities in the Totladoh Reservoir located inside the Pench Tiger Reserve in the year 1995 and also prohibited entry of these fishermen into the Tiger Reserve, but since the time, the Fishermen enter the Pench Tiger Reserve illegally to reach the Totladoh Reservoir and illegally indulge in fishing activities and skirmishes with the Forest Department and STPF are on a regular basis.

It is pertinent to point out that, the nuisance of illegal fishing is not limited to the Maharashtra side of the Pench Tiger Reserve, but so also the Madhya Pradesh side. In 1995 the then collector of Chhindwara district in his letter of 7th June 1995 addressed to the Secretary Forest Department, Government of Madhya Pradesh, in connection with the issuing of a final notification for the establishment of Pench National Park had asserted that displaced persons from the four villages namely, Palaspani, Umarighat, Chhindewani and Chhedia had traditional fishing rights in the Pench river. In the same year the Animal and Environment legal defense fund, filed a writ petition in the Supreme Court challenging this decision. In its judgment of March 1997 the Supreme Court banned all fishing activities in the Totladoh reservoir. Hence, fishing in the Totladoh reservoir which forms the part of the Pench Tiger Reserve, Maharashtra & Madhya Pradesh alike, is illegal and is also an offence punishable under Wildlife Protection Act, 1972. Despite the orders of the Supreme Court banning fishing, illegal fishing has been rampant and has been carrying-out on a regular basis. The Hon’ble Supreme Court of India in Sansarchand ..V/s.. State of Rajasthan had directed all the agencies to take stringent action against the persons violating the provisions of Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.

Thereafter, in the year 2001, with the newly appointed Field Director and Assistant Conservator of Forests Chhindwara Division, took efforts to solve the problem of illegal fishing with renewed vigor. The Collector Chhindwara district with the help of a committee set up for identifying the actual right holders finally identified 145 families as having traditional rights to fishing. Accordingly a compensation of Rs 72 lakhs was decided upon to be divided among these 145 families, the division of which was made on the basis of the fish catch they had over the last four months. By 2001-02 the respective amounts were paid to the various families and their rights thus settled. The rehabilitation efforts for the fishermen have seen the employment of some of them with the Forest Department for patrolling along the river side, or as watchmen in the guest houses. Those owning land have been encouraged to take up agricultural activities and the landless have been given money under the respective EDC to set up their own small business. Still others have been provided training in alternate employment activities. Similar employment generating activities have also been undertaken by the Maharashtra Forest Department and several youth from villages around the Reserve have been given Hospitality and Vocational Training and have started their own ventures or have got employment in various enterprises and are earning a honorable livelihood.

Looking at increasing crime against Wildlife and illegal activities like fishing etc…. a Special Tiger Protection Force (STPF) was established and personnel deployed in Tiger Reserves to keep a check on illegal activities to protect Tigers and carrying-out anti-poaching measures in and around the Tiger Reserves.

 In the present case wherein one Fisherman died and left few injured, the actions of the STPF personnel to protect the Tiger Reserve from illegal activities of the Fishermen was in line of their call of official duty and something without prejudice. It is perfectly legal and moral responsibility of the STPF personnel to act in the manner they did. Now under public outrage or under duress from the illegal fishing mafia, several local politicians are working against the interest of Natural History and Environment, and pressurizing the State Machinery to book cases of murder under section 302 of the IPC against the STPF personnel and the Maharashtra Forest Department. Such ir-responsible acts of the politicians will not only encourage the illegal fishing mafia, but also dis-courage the STPF personnel and Maharashtra Forest Department and the very purpose of their deployment will be lost. These STPF personnel and so also the Forest Guards / Staff of the Maharashtra Forest Department and the Madhya Pradesh Forest Department live in the most trying conditions inside Tiger Reserves under the constant threat of wild animals and in the most trying conditions, and give their best to perform their duty of protecting India’s Natural History and Environment, and when they are being wrongly implicated at the behest of some politicians with their own malafied intentions.

 Here, the biggest question arising in the minds of the citizens of our Motherland is, “Is performing to the best of their abilities in the line of duty for which one has been appointed by the Government and is being paid a salary for the same, in-correct or illegal?”

 It is for the Governments at the States and the Centre to answer the above question, in the best interest of the Nation, so also the Governments in the States and at the Centre have to take mitigating steps to protect the Natural History and Environment of our Motherland. If the Governments fail to take mitigating steps in the positive direction, not only will the Environment of our country be at risk, but will also deter the populace from taking-up jobs with such responsibilities creating a huge void in the system.