Governor questions Forest department ’capacity’

Our Bureau

Guwahati/ Bokakhat, February 4: A day after poachers killed another rhino in Kaziranga tiol Park taking the toll to six this year, an upset Governor PB Acharya today called for “examition” of the capacity of the forest department to tackle the mece.

“The Governor has called for examition of the equipment capacity, ability, preparedness and willingness to take up the challenges against disgruntled, anti–social, greedy, well–equipped gangsters and crimils who are killing our precious rhinos one after another,” a Raj Bhavan press communiqué stated. Having raised doubts over the “sincerity and efficacy” of the forest department earlier, the Governor today once again expressed his displeasure and concern about the latest rhino killing. “It is a brutal attack on our capacity in caring for and preserving our rhinos. It is a challenge to our Government as well as the concerned Ministry,” he said.

Insisting that the crime has to be nipped in the bud, he said “governce and accountability to the people should be the uppermost job of the government”.  

“It is high time to act and find out the deficiency in governce of the concerned department and to immediately punish the culprits,” the Governor said, appealing to the people to cooperate with the government’s efforts to set right the things and protect wildlife.

Meanwhile, the Forest department has sought suggestions and help from the local people of Kaziranga to protect and conserve wildlife in the tiol park. A public meeting was today organized at the Convention Hall at Kohora in a bid to seek suggestions from the locals to tackle the mece of poaching.

Range Officer Mukul Tamuly explained the aims and objectives of the meeting which was presided over by social worker Suchen Deworah and attended by the members of different Echo–Development Committees , VDPs, socio–cultural organizations , heads of villages and senior citizens of greater Kaziranga.

Among the suggestions that emated during the meeting were engagement of local youths to spy upon suspected poachers, formation of a co–ordition committee among different organs of the government and society, establishment of Tangi Ghars (Machans) on the boundary of Kaziranga tiol Park and engagement of local people as watchmen there, appointment of a Public Relations Officer at KNP, appointment of locals as forest guards, transfer of aging forest workers from Kaziranga etc.