Forest Minister Parimal Suklabaidya Orders No Leave For Forest Officials, Staff

GUWAHATI: State Forest and Environment Minister Parimal Suklabaidya on Saturday ordered cancellation of leave of all officials and staffs of national parks and wildlife sanctuaries and asked them to remain alert round the clock to save animals during the current wave of floods.

Every leave appeal, ongoing leave and request for appeal of leave made by/of every staff stands cancelled with immediate effect.

A statement issued by the Minister said the period of flood in Kaziranga National Park had been a golden time for poachers to hunt rhino horns in the past years as the rhinos moved to high lands to escape the floods.

“We have inducted a Rhino Protection Force which is trained and equipped with all latest armoury to eliminate the risk of poaching during natural calamities. This force consisting of 82 specially trained commandos, are currently on duty amidst the floods to counter any such risks and possibilities in Kaziranga,” Suklabaidya said. He added that two notorious poachers were caught on Saturday.

Due to the convergence of the National Highway-37 with the area of Kaziranga, it is the general tendency of the innocent animals to come out of the flood affected lands of the park in the highway, Parimal Suklabaidya said.

“Unfortunately, these animals fall prey to the high speeding vehicles which commute in the highway and hit the animals taking their lives. This problem has also been resolved to a significant extent with the professional management of the highway traffic jointly by the forest officials, district administration and local police,” he said.

Suklabaidya has also requested the citizens residing in the vicinity of all parks and wildlife sanctuaries to treat the flood affected animals with love and care.

Also Read: Assam Forest Minister Parimal Suklabaidya Warns Corrupt Forest Officers