Solan: Amarinder may find himself in trouble over rare birds issue

Arvind Kashyap, Express India

Solan, September 6: The rearing and breeding of rare birds by Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh at his Dochi farmhouse near Chail may land him in trouble if violations of the law and the norms of the Central Zoo Authority of India are established.

Reliable sources in the state Forest Department revealed that as per the law and the norms, the Central Zoo Authority of India could only give permission to an individual for establishing a zoo across the country on certain conditions. Sources further revealed that as per various sections of the Wild Life Protection Act, any person violating the law may face a sentence of six months to six years besides fine.

Sources revealed that the department had asked the Punjab Chief Minister to furnish the details concerning the number and species of all birds including exotic ones within a fortnight, failing which action would be initiated under the provisions of the law. The letter was written after noticing some violations at the farmhouse.

‘‘We have written a letter to Amarinder Singh asking him to provide necessary information within 15 days,’’ said Chail Range Forest Officer (Wild Life) Sanjeev Sood.

Notably, the Dochi farmhouse of Amarinder Singh came into the limelight after some persons intimated officials of the state wildlife wing that the owner of the farmhouse had allegedly kept nearly 40 rare birds in captivity. However, the officials during a visit to the farmhouse had found that these birds were imported by the forefathers of Amarinder Singh from France and Germany, many years back. The employees at Dochi had informed the officials that the forefathers of the owner had imported only two-three birds but later the number had increased after breeding.

Surprisingly, even after the spotting of rare birds at the farmhouse, none of the officials of the Central Zoo Authority of India has visited Dochi till date, leaving many questions unanswered. Also, no senior officer of the state Forest Department has visited the farmhouse.

Meanwhile, state BJP spokesman Dr Rajeev Bindal today demanded a high-level probe into the entire issue so that the truth could come before the public. Bindal said that the government and the Central Zoo Authority of India should immediately take the needed action if violations had been noticed.

On the other hand, Range Forest Officer Sanjeev Sood said that the picture would be clear only after receiving the reply of Amarinder Singh in this connection. He, however, refused to comment on the purported violations at the Dochi farmhouse.