‘Love for ture prerequisite for forest jobs’

By our Staff Reporter

GUWAHATI, Jan 1: The State Forest Department is gearing up for recruitments. There were recruitments of forest guards and surveyors in the department from time to time. If this is the ground reality, how come there be frequent killing of rhinos in the Kaziranga tiol Park (KNP)?

“While recruiting people the department should also keep in mind that the candidates should be ture lovers. There should be a particular yardstick to ascertain whether a candidate is aware of environmental issues or a ture lover,” a top official in the office of the Principal Chief Conservator of Forest and Head of Forest Force said.

The official raised concerns over the long distances ranging from three to four km between patrolling camps in the KNP, a fact that helps poachers. “There are over 150 patrolling camps at the KNP. Sub-camps have to be set up in between the major ones,” the official said.    

The top official said that to stop poaching the intertiol market of animal parts has to be banned. “This apart, the north bank of the Brahmaputra lacks adequate security. It has to be addressed. Patrolling with motorboats along with forest staff has to be increased. River patrolling is a tough job, and there is no way out but making it stronger. The arms that are used currently are outdated ones. In order to boost our firepower, we need to replace 303 rifles with AK 47s. Extremists from Karbi Anglong through galand are notorious for poaching in the KNP. This is not all. The ageing forest guards aren’t agile enough as the job the demands. Young people, if armed with sophisticated weapons, can fight the mece. The Burhapahar range, which is linked with Karbi Anglong at the other side, has to be secured,” the official added.