NEW DELHI: The Union Environment and Forests Ministry has announced setting up of an inter-state coordination committee as part of its anti-poaching strategy. Comprising officers from various enforcement agencies and forest divisions, the committee will periodically review poaching problems along the borders.
The committee will be set up for better implementation of anti-poaching measures in the sensitive areas around tiger reserves at the Ranthambore Tiger Reserve in Rajasthan; Palpur Kuno Wildlife Sanctuary in Madhya Pradesh; Bandipur Tiger Reserve in Karnataka; Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary and National Park in Tamil Nadu; Wyanad Wildlife Sanctuary in Kerala and Pench Tiger Reserve in Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh.
The coordination committee will comprise Field Director of Tiger Reserve, Director of National Park or sanctuary in the area, Deputy Directors of Tiger Reserve or Protected Area, Superintendent of Police or the SSP in the region and the Regional Deputy Director, Ministry of Environment and Forest as its member convenor.
The seniormost officer would chair the meeting of the coordination committee, which may also co-opt officers from other enforcement agencies and nearby forest divisions in the area, if required. The committee will meet once in every three months to exchange information on major poaching cases and seizures relating to the Wildlife (Schedules I, II and III of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972).
It would work out a strategy for networking and daily exchange of information at field level apart from preparing crime dossiers of perpetual offenders along with photo identities. Besides organising collaborative border patrolling and tracking of offenders, it will suggest strategy for rehabilitation and involvement of traditional hunting tribes and communities in the area for eliciting their support in conservation.
