Chief Secretary Alok Kumar Jain, during the review meeting of Forest Department, directed the departmental officers to recruit 90 Tiger Guards out of which 27 should be from Gujjar Community to prevent poaching. He also directed for regular raids, vigilance and patrolling to prevent poaching.
Mr. Jain instructed the officers to identify places where there was necessary to depute STF. He said that all requisite weapons and equipments would be provided. Mr. Jain asked them to impart quality training to the members of Wild Life Wing.
The Chief Secretary stressed on spreading awareness towards forest fires and directed the department to take affective measures to prevent forest fire. He said that even the school children ought to be told about the forest fire and its prevention. He asked the officers to ensure involvement of local communities and take help from Van Panchayats and Gram Panchayats. He also instructed them to set up fodder banks.
Principal Chief Forest Conservator Dr. RBS Rawat apprised that 38 Master Control Rooms and 1131 Crew Stations had been established. He said that cases had been filed against 22 people for conspiring forest fire and 7 had been sent to jail so far. Principal Wild Life Warden GD Sharma said that 9 infrared cameras had been installed in 1288 sq km area of Corbett Park. He said that not a single case of poaching had been reported this year. As far as death of three tigers were concerned, he said, one had died a natural death, another had died in a conflict and third one was a suspected poaching case. This case is being investigated, he said.
The meeting was attended by Principal Secretary Forest M Ramaswamy, Additional Secretary Forest Sushant Patnaik and other senior officers.