Arunachal Pradesh Government moves to check hunting of wildlife
OUR CORRESPONDENT
ITANAGAR: To check rampant hunting of wildlife, the Arunachal Pradesh government will embark upon a mission – Air gun Surrender Abhiyan where people in possession of air guns will have to surrender, the assembly was informed on Friday.
Replying to a question raised in the House by senior Congress member Wanglin Lowangdong during Question Hour, Environment & Forest Minister Mama Natung informed that his department is planning to start the mission from April onwards.
"The abhiyan has already being in my district East Kameng and will begin in other district from April onwards," he said and appealed to the members to bring awareness among the people to stop hunting of wildlife.
Expressing concern on large-scale hunting during tribal festivals, Natung informed that he had directed the Forest department to act tough on hunting; and accordingly 42 hunters were arrested so far. "Many important floral and faunal species of the State are on the verge of extinction due to rampant hunting by the local people," added Natung.
Assembly Speaker Passang Dorjee Sona responding to the issue said that if all the members stop eating wildlife meat, it would send a louder message to the people.
Responding to a supplementary, Natung assured the House to convene a meeting soon to chalk out strategies on how to revive the ailing Arunachal Pradesh Forest Corporation established several decades ago.