Cops, foresters draw up plan of action to check poaching incidents in Gir

July 11, 2007

11-7-2007

Ahmedabad Newline By Sibte Husain Bukhari

Junagadh, July 10: GIR lion poaching incidents fresh in their minds, senior

police and forest officials held a high-level meeting on Tuesday to mull

over a comprehensive plan to ensure adequate safety and security to the

wildlife in the area. An action plan has been drawn up which includes

keeping tabs on inter-state labourers, using technology for safety

precautions and strengthening surveillance at the district and range level.

The meeting chaired by Inspector general of police (Junagadh range) included

senior police and forest officials from the three districts in the range _

Junagadh, Amreli and Bhavnagar. All the concerned deputy conservators of

forest were also in attendance to represent their respective areas. " This is

second meeting regarding the poaching issue. We are going to implement a

fool-proof plan to ensure the safety and security of the wild life,

particularly lions, " IGP Junagadh range, Mohan Jha said.

According to the plan, Sarpanches of revenue villages falling on the

periphery of Gir forest will be activated to keep a tab on odd (inter-state)

laborers, create awareness among peoples by organising lok-darbar (peoples

meeting with officials), locate any suspicious movement and keep a close eye

on it, use of modern technology while taking safety precautions and

strengthen district and range level surveillances.

Jha added. " We don't want any loopholes in the security system and we are

also going to conduct special training sessions for our staff along with

formation of district-level committee to monitor the safety and security

plan, " he said. Meanwhile, CID crime, investigating agency which is

conducting the probe in the poaching cases, has also formed its own special

wild life cell to check the offences related to wild life and forest.

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