Panel formed to curb lion poaching

30-5-2007

Panel formed to curb lion poaching

Times of India By: Nayan Dave

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Cities/Ahmedabad/Panel_formed_to_curb_lion_poaching/articleshow/2084969.cms

 

JUNAGADH: In a bid to prevent poaching incidents of Asiatic lions and to keep a track on people carrying out suspicious activities outside the Gir forest, Gujarat government has decided to form a 10-member monthly monitoring committee (MMC) comprising police and forest department officials.

 

The decision was taken after a government resolution (GR) was issued by the environment and forest ministry, recently. The committee will meet once a month to discuss and plan strategies to curb lion poaching, say sources. Apart from DIG (Junagadh range) who is heading the committee, Junagadh range, Conservator of forest (wildlife, Junagadh circle), DSP Junagadh, Bhavnagar & Amreli, two deputy conservators of forest (DFO) of Junagadh and one each from Amreli, Bhavnagar and Dhari form the core committee.

 

Chairman of the committee and DIG Junagadh range, Mohan Jha said of the 22 talukas, lions were found to be straying in 11 talukas of Junagadh district while seven districts have been identified in Amreli and four in Bhavnagar district.

 

"During the committee meeting officials decided to include Ghogha and Bhavnagar talukas in Bhavnagar district and Dhoraji and Jetpur talukas in Rajkot district under the MMC,"Jha said. MMC member, Bharat Pathak, conservator of forest (wildlife) said, "With the help of the police, it will be easier to strategise comprehensively to curb poaching activities,"he said.