From our Correspondent

Itanagar, Aug 7: Arunachal Chief Minister Nabam Tuki has suggested the Environment and Forest Department to encourage livestock farming under eco-development scheme of Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA) to distract the people from illegal hunting practices.

“Such initiative can divert the attention of the people towards economic sustenance schemes rather going for illegal hunting,” Tuki justified while presiding over the third governing body meeting of state unit of CAMPA here today.

While asserting for concerted efforts for preservation of the notified reserve forests, Tuki gave a clarion call to the department to deal with the illegal encroachers of the protected forest areas with iron hands.

“We must protect our reserve forests and wild life at any cost”, he emphatically said while stressing for manning vulnerable areas by constituting honorary wardens from the community.

Tuki directed the department to immediately start planting fruit bearing plants in all schools and college areas and wherever feasible under the compensatory afforestation programme so that the dual purpose of afforestation cum income generation could be achieved.

Apart from suggesting extensive publicity on forest fire, wild life and environment protection and illegal hunting, the Chief Minister was of the opinion that the department of IPR could be used for the purpose.

He asked for placing banners and posters at all locations and preparing calendars on environment protection so that more and more people could be educated on preservation of rich biodiversity of the State.

Calling for resurrecting the District Advisory Board, Tuki said that such board was essential to monitor the function of environment and afforestation programmes.

Principal Chief Conservator of Forest (PCCF) B S Sajwan while placing a detailed agenda assured to take the suggestions in a constructive way.

Among others PWD, Planning and Finance Minister Chowna Mein, Environment & Forest Parliamentary Secretary C T Mein, Chief Secretary Yeshi Tsering, Finance and Development Commissioner Ramesh Negi along with senior forest officers were present in the meeting.