Armed police to guard Sonai Rupai sanctuary

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Link: http://www.assamtribune.com

 

Armed police to guard Sonai Rupai sanctuary

By Prabal Kr Das

GUWAHATI, Dec 3 – Faced with the twin threats of illegal

encroachment and felling of trees, Sonai Rupai Wildlife Sanctuary

would soon have camps manned by armed police personnel. This is the

outcome of high-level deliberations involving the Forest Department,

Sonitpur district administration and police. Facing criticism for

failing to stop large-scale encroachment, the Forest Department is

keen to put the process on a fast track.

 

An action plan by the Forest Department detailing the number of

armed personnel to be stationed in four camps inside the 135 sq

kilometre wildlife sanctuary is on the anvil. The plan would also

contain particulars related to fund and logistical requirements.

 

Recently, a team comprising Sonitpur DC, SP, and the local DFO had

made an on the spot assessment of the sanctuary and noted illegal

felling at several parts and detected illegal settlers, some of

which were removed the same day.

 

Well-placed sources told The Assam Tribune that during the daylong

visit they witnessed degradation and fragmentation of the forest,

which was recent in origin. Some of the habitat destroyed by

encroachers used to be prime elephant habitat. Among the felled

trees were some valuable species.

 

The assessment was a step the district administration and the Forest

Department had to take following media reports on large-scale

destruction of forest inside the wildlife sanctuary. As a result of

illegal encroachment the habitat of wildlife had shrunk

substantially.

 

An official who was part of the recent visit revealed Sonai Rupai

used to have a resident population of about 150 wild elephants.

Herds from that population, due to pressure on their habitat, now

enter nearby settlements and create panic.

 

It is likely that the State Government now would adopt a stronger

stance against illegal encroachers because it now realizes the

implications of the damage caused to Sonai Rupai..

 

In the past, there were four camps to monitor and protect the

sanctuary, some of which were destroyed by encroachers. Besides

reactivating the camps, plans are afoot to station armed police

inside the sanctuary on a permanent basis.

 

" The intent is clear, no further damage could be allowed to take

place. Large tracts of forests have been removed. What remains have

to be protected not just for the elephants, but for the food and

water security of neighboring settlements, " the official said.

 

Anupam Sharma, coordinator, North Bank Landscape, WWF India said

conservation of Sonai Rupai wildlife sanctuary is important not just

for protecting its resident flora and fauna, but for maintaining a

crucial corridor for the movement of the major elephant population

of the north bank.

 

" If the sanctuary degrades or disappears, the fate of not less than

a 1,000 wild elephants is sealed. Bereft of the strategically

located space the East-West movement of wild elephants hits a dead

end, " Sarma said.

 

In such a situation, pressure on the elephants to divert into human

settlements would be even greater and consequently human-elephant

conflict would increase manifold.

 

Moreover, the rampant removal of forest cover in Sonai Rupai is

destroying soil and water quality. Water scarcity and soil

degradation have been witnessed in the degraded Barnadi Wildlife

Sanctuary close by. The same phenomenon would occur in the adjoining

areas of Sonai Rupai, unless corrective steps are taken immediately,

Sarma added.