Cops, foresters draw up plan of action to check poaching incidents in Gir

11-7-2007

Cops, foresters draw up plan of action to check poaching incidents in Gir

Ahmedabad Newline By Sibte Husain Bukhari

http://cities.expressindia.com/fullstory.php?newsid=245290

Junagadh, July 10: GIR lion poaching incidents fresh in their minds, senior police and forest officials held a high-level meeting on Tuesday to mull over a comprehensive plan to ensure adequate safety and security to the wildlife in the area. An action plan has been drawn up which includes keeping tabs on inter-state labourers, using technology for safety precautions and strengthening surveillance at the district and range level.

The meeting chaired by Inspector general of police (Junagadh range) included senior police and forest officials from the three districts in the range _ Junagadh, Amreli and Bhavnagar. All the concerned deputy conservators of forest were also in attendance to represent their respective areas. “This is second meeting regarding the poaching issue. We are going to implement a fool-proof plan to ensure the safety and security of the wild life, particularly lions,” IGP Junagadh range, Mohan Jha said.

According to the plan, Sarpanches of revenue villages falling on the periphery of Gir forest will be activated to keep a tab on odd (inter-state) laborers, create awareness among peoples by organising lok-darbar (peoples meeting with officials), locate any suspicious movement and keep a close eye on it, use of modern technology while taking safety precautions and strengthen district and range level surveillances.

Jha added. “We don’t want any loopholes in the security system and we are also going to conduct special training sessions for our staff along with formation of district-level committee to monitor the safety and security plan,” he said. Meanwhile, CID crime, investigating agency which is conducting the probe in the poaching cases, has also formed its own special wild life cell to check the offences related to wild life and forest.