NAGPUR, March 28: A long-pending proposal, to provide firearms, fast-moving vehicles and wireless communication systems to strengthen the Forest Department engaged in the protection of flora and fauna, will be implemented this year.The expenditure for the first phase of the scheme to equip the field staff of the Forest Department in Nagpur, Chandrapur, Thane and Dhule circles, is estimated at Rs 36.85 crore. It will be extended to other forest circles after two years, said D V Ghanekar, Chief Conservator of Forests.
Speaking to newspersons, Ghanekar discussed various decisions taken by the Department for the protection of forest wealth. He said the field staff engaged in the protection of vulnerable areas were facing a serious handicap because of the lack of facilities. The unarmed staff were often attacked by poachers and forest mafia engaged in illicit felling of trees. The increase in the number of attacks on forest staff only strengthened the view that they needed to be better equipped. But theproposal had remained pending. It is now being implemented with the State government agreeing to make the necessary budgetary provision.
He said the staff performed in an exemplary manner despite these handicaps. Because of the preventive action taken by them and the afforestation drive undertaken by the Department, the forest cover in the State went up by 2300 sq km. The State thus achieved a rare distinction.
Another feat was the regularisation of daily wagers engaged by the department. About 10,000 workers who put in more than five years of services had been regularised. Ghanekar also served as Director of the prestigious Project Tiger in Melghat region for about 5 years. He described it as a project meant not merely to save the tiger but also to conserve biodiversity. The tiger is considered to be at the top of the biodiversity pyramid. Hence, conservation of biodiversity is necessary to save the majestic animal.The Tiger Project in Melghat is a tremendous success, he argued. The number of tigers hasgone up from 32 to 87 in the last 25 years. About the issue of shifting of villages from the Project Tiger area, he said there was no move to shift all 52 villages outside the buffer zone of the project. About 17 villages close to the core zone were being re-located within the buffer zone itself, Ghanekar said, adding the policy is to maintain the peaceful co-existence of man and animal.
Copyright © 1998 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
