State’s lone Elephant Rehabilitation Centre awaits recognition

Shiv Kumar Sharma

Tribune News Service

Yamunanagar, May 29

Ch Surinder Singh Elephant Rehabilitation Centre, the only centre of its kind in the state, situated at reserved Ban Santoor forest of Yamunanagar district is not recognised with the Central Zoo Authority (CZA).

Replying to a query sought by Naresh Kadyan, In-charge of Animal Welfare Party, an organisation working for the welfare of animals recently, Dr Brij Kishor Gupta, Evaluation and Monitoring Officer, Central Zoo Authority, said, “There is no rescue centre for elephants in the country recognised by the Central Zoo Authority under Section 38-H of the Wild Life (protection) Act 1972.”

Naresh Kadyan has demanded the state government to either shut down the Elephant Rehabilitant Centre or get it approved from the CZA.

Sources said that after getting sanctioned by the Union Environment Ministry, the Haryana government did not bother to get it recognised from the Central Zoo Authority as per Section 38-H of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.

The Union Environment Ministry had sanctioned Rs 90.75 lakh for the establishment of the centre in Ban Santoor in 2006 and the first installment of Rs 50 lakh was released in 2006-7.

Padam Parkash Bhojvaid, Chief Wildlife Warden, said, “We have taken steps for reorganization of the Ch. Surinder Singh Elephant Rehabilitation Centre and filed a special petition in the Supreme Court in this regard.”

As per available information, the centre provides protection to captive elephants. At present, there are three female elephants in the centre.

Kadyan also demanded that the name of the Centre be changed as Ch Surinder Singh, late husband of Kiran Chaudhry, was not involved in the preservation of Wildlife.