Rhino poaching: Munda wields the big stick

By Our Staff Reporter

Guwahati, February 4: Rattled by the ubated poaching of rhinos, Forest minister Atuwa Munda today sought to make forest officials accountable and said that the personnel – from the guards up to the DFO – will have to explain in the event of any poaching incidents in their area.

Munda today chaired a meeting of senior forest department and police officials and discussed ways and means to tackle the mece.

“The personnel–  the beat officer, ranger, forester, DFO and other officials – will have to explain whenever there is an incident of poaching in their area,” an official source said after the meeting.

The Forest minister also announced a reward of Rs 1 lakh for anyone providing information about poachers. The identity of the informer will be kept secret, he said.

He also informed that from Friday, forest and police personnel will launch an operation in the Karbi Anglong side of Kaziranga with the help of paramilitary forces.

Aging forest staff in Kaziranga will be replaced by young personnel, he said, adding that the vacant posts in the department will be filled soon.

Today’s meeting was attended by ADGPs RM Singh, AP Rawat, Kaziranga Director MK Yadav and DFOs of Kaziranga, Karbi Anglong, gaon, Sonitpur and Golaghat and other senior forest officials.

Another meeting among the DCs and SPs of seven districts (Jorhat, Golaghat, Karbi Anglong, gaon, Sonitpur, Darrang and Biswath) will be called shortly.