Besides protecting the country’s borders, the Army is now being armed with legal powers to guard the nation’s rich flora and fauna as well.

The National Board for Wildlife, which meets here on Monday under the Chairmanship of the Prime Minister, will follow up various recommendations of the Tiger Task Force, including the setting up of the National Wildlife Crime Bureau.

But the most important agenda will be to consider the proposal of empowering the Army with legal "weapons" to assist the forest authorities concerned for protecting flora and fauna and initiate the process of banning diclofenac, a veterinary drug responsible for the death of vultures over the past few years.

According to environment agencies, the sale of Indian tiger and leopard skins is widespread in Tibet. Since the Army is deployed on the borders and is regularly patrolling these tracts, it is being recommended that field commanders in Jammu and Kashmir and the North- East be vested with legal powers as provided to Chief Wildlife Wardens.

As per an MoEF spokesperson, by virtue of their task and deployment, when conferred with legal powers, these officers will be able to assist the forest authorities concerned in ensuring protection of flora and fauna.

The National Board for Wildlife came into existence on September 22, 2003, and has 47 members with the Prime Minister as the Chairman. The agenda for the meeting has about nine items varying from setting up of National Wildlife Crime Bureau to conserving important wetlands, red jungle fowl and lions.

To protect vultures from extinction, two important actions have already been taken. One is to phase out of the drug diclofenac and second is to start a breeding programme to increase their population.

Diclofenac will be phased out as early as possible. The research into viable alternative is being carried out at Vulture Breeding Center, Pinjore, by Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Bombay, Natural History Society and Government of Haryana. As per their suggestion, meloxicam is a safe alternative which will be prescribed in future in place of diclofenac.

During the meeting, suggested actions will be discussed like stopping the government purchase and supply of diclofenac to animal husbandry and veterinary departments immediately, withdrawing it, stopping its prescription and initiating the process of banning of it.

Other items on the agenda include the raising of Ecological Task Force Battalion for sanctuaries and funds for awareness and State Board of Wildlife. The Centre acknowledges that there has been a perceptible decline in the population of tigers in the country, therefore, there is a recommendation that a force of disciplined and dedicated individuals be formed for protection of sanctuaries.

Here again the Army will provide assistance. Since most of soldiers retire between the age of 35 and 40 years and are well trained, disciplined, and with considerable experience of operating in any kind of terrain, they are best suited for such jobs.

An ETF battalion will be formed to check poaching, stop biodegradation and prevent denudation and theft of forest wealth in areas where it will be deployed. This force can comprise of ex-servicemen and equipped with adequate mobility and surveillance devices.