The Environment Ministry has severely criticised the BBC and requested that they blacklist their South Asia correspondent Justin Rowlatt, over a documentary that highlights the government’s “ruthless anti-poaching strategy” for the Kaziranga tiger reserve.
According to a report by The Indian Express, the Ministry told that the documentary presented a one-sided picture, and was panned as being “grossly erroneous”.
The film, Killing for Conservation explores the darker secrets of Kaziranga, raising a question as to whether the war on poaching has gone a step too far. The film claims that the guards were given the power to ‘shoot and kill’, which according to Rowlatt, has led to the deaths of 23 poachers, compared to 17 rhinos last year.
The National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) faulted both Rowlatt and the BBC for airing the programme last Saturday without submitting it to the Ministries of Environment and External Affairs for the mandatory preview necessary to “remove any deviations, so as to achieve a balanced and accurate exposition of the theme.”
Furthermore, The NCTA revealed that in their original letter (in which they were seking permission to film), the BBC wanted to present a story on the challenges and expertise of India’s conservation drive.
Kaziranga tiger reserve director Satyendra Singh claims to have been misquoted by the BBC, whom he believes altered facts to suit their own narrative.
Under Section 38 of the Wildlife Protection Act 1972, the NTCA have given both Rowlatt and BBC’s South Asia bureau, seven days to show cause as to why their filming permissions should not be permanently revoked.
It further warned the BBC of cancelling all future permits, if the programme was not removed from various online portals with immediate effect. The Indian High Commission in the UK has also been asked to take action.
In an article on BBC.com, Rowlatt talked at length about the issues present in Kaziranga.
The film claims that apart from killing poachers, unsuspecting locals too have lost their lives, for having strayed into the park, which doesn't have a designated boundary. A young boy, with severe learning difficulties, was apparently shot at and maimed for having trespassed into the premises looking for his lost cows.
When clarifying their stance, BBC spokesman told The Indian Express in an email:
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