NAGPUR: Wildlife activist Bandu Dhotre launched an indefinite fast from Monday to try and jump start tiger conservation activities by the state. Dhotre's fast started at 11am in front of PWD Sankul, Civil Lines, to demand protection of tigers in the state, and Chandrapur in particular. His effort got support from many people, including a group of school students, who painted a huge picture of a helmet over tigers with forest in the background to depict 'helmet is lifeguard for riders, so is forest for tigers'. Dhotre, founder of Eco-Pro, an ecological protection NGO from Chandrapur, may be perhaps the only person to launch an indefinite fast for tigers. The fast got huge support from volunteers and conservationists from the city, including students from Hadas High School, Prahar Military School and RS Mundle High School. The stir is being supported by Nagpur Environment Protection Group (NEPG) and other NGOs. Before the fast, a delegation led by Shyam Pandharipande, Swanand Soni, Vilas Kale, Arjun Dhanwatey, Anuradha Paul, Nitin Jatkar, Neeraj Khandewale, Arvind Giri, Sanjay Karkare and others submitted a list of demands to PCCF (wildlife) SWH Naqvi. Two rounds of talks between Dhotre and wildlife wing officials had failed last month, leading to the fast. Naqvi told the delegation that the demands have already been forwarded to the state government. Congress MP from Nagpur Vilas Muttemwar, who is fighting to get legal status to Nagpur as 'World Tiger Capital', visited Dhotre at 2.30pm and appealed to him to call off the fast. BJP MLA from South-West Nagpur Devendra Fadnavis also called upon Dhotre in the evening. Talking to newsmen, Muttemwar agreed that Dhotre's demands to save tigers were genuine, but said it will take time to meet them as files move slowly in government departments. "When it comes to Vidarbha, the delay is more," he lamented. He tried to convince Dhotre by saying the method of resorting to fast to fulfil demands has become outdated. "It's a long battle which will have to be continued. It is not only Bandu's fight, but all of us should support him," said Muttemwar. "Tigers are not an issue with most people and hence both, state and central government, are not concerned about tigers in Vidarbha," he said. He suggested the forest minister should be from Vidarbha as most of the forest is here. Muttemwar also took pot shots at forest minister Patangrao Kadam for showing lack of interest in the ministry. Even after spurt in poaching in Chandrapur district, Kadam has never bothered to visit the area. He came only after Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray planned a visit to Chandrapur. Citing the tiger death on Saturday in Junona, Muttemwar said the tiger died in a territorial fight, which means tigers are crying for space. "The government needs to act fast and relocate villages to create space," he added. The MP declared wholehearted support to Dhotre, saying the demands raised by him have already been raised with chief minister Prithviraj Chavan and minister for environment and forests Jayanthi Natarajan. However, on the ground tiger protection remains grim. Muttemwar also spoke to principal secretary (forests) Praveen Pardeshi, who told him that most of the demands can be met but it will take time to legalize them. Fadnavis too has promised to raise the issue in the monsoon session of the assembly. Dhotre apprised Muttemwar and Fadnavis about the need to take over rich forest areas presently under the Forest Development Corporation of Maharashtra (FDCM). "The FDCM is into felling of timber. Wildlife management practices are zero in FDCM areas, causing problems," said Dhotre. Dhotre's Wish List * Merge FDCM areas in Chandrapur district along with staff into Chandrapur forest division, and convert it into a wildlife circle * Set up 'Electronics Eye' project in TATR on the lines of Jim Corbett to nail poachers * Withdraw fire protection work in tiger reserve from FDCM and keep it under field director * Declare Chandrapur as tiger district * Set up quick response teams (QRTs) and rescue centre at Chandrapur * Create wildlife intelligence department with secret funds * Restrict resorts around TATR that are blocking tiger corridors * Reorganize area of beats and create new posts * Set up forensic lab in Nagpur for wildlife investigations