The Hindu: Chennai: Tuesday, January 30, 2018.
Last week,
a blackbuck fawn died
An RTI plea
has revealed that 13 animals died on the sprawling campus of IIT-Madras between
November and December last year.
The National
Green Tribunal had directed the IIT-M management to ensure that all animals on
the campus are protected. However, with no operational Southern bench of the
NGT here, there is no clarity on how the NGT’s interim order will be
implemented and who will be held responsible.
The RTI shows
that 13 animals, including three blackbucks and one blackbuck fawn, died on the
campus between November 1 and December 17. The other animals that died were a
few spotted deer and monkeys. It is not clear if the animals died in accidents
or due to other causes.
Endangered
species
Blackbucks
are a Schedule-I species under the Indian Wildlife Act, 1972, making them one
of the most endangered species.
“I was ready
to file a miscellaneous application seeking a committee to be formed to do an
impact study and monitor what is happening, so that there is no plastic and
solid waste lying around,” said Antony Rubin, who filed an application with the
NGT after an RTI revealed more than 220 deer, including eight blackbucks, died
on the campus in just two years. Mr. Rubin said that he was unable to file the
application because the bench was non-functional.
Last week, a
blackbuck fawn died on the campus after it was reportedly mauled by stray dogs.
Stray dogs have been a threat to animals on the campus. Mr. Rubin said the
stray dogs are attracted to food source, mainly garbage and solid waste.
An email was
sent to the IIT’s media team late on Monday evening. A response is awaited.
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