Driving license must for Gir visit (For vehicles using Sanctuary Roads)

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30-12-2007

Driving license must for Gir visit (For vehicles using Sanctuary Roads)

Times of India Ahmedabad Edition

http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Daily/skins/TOI/navigator.asp?Daily=TOIA & login=de\

fault & AW=1198998374234

 

Rajkot: Harried over lion poaching, the forest department has decided to

increase vigil in the Gir forest, the only abode of Asiatic lions in the world.

The department will note down the driving license number of every driver with a

private vehicle that enters the sanctuary.

 

When a private vehicle enters the sanctuary through Dalkhaniya near Dhari in

Amreli district now, the guards at the gate will ask for the original driving

license and allow the car only after noting down the number. “If the driver is

not carrying the original license, the person who is traveling along, will have

to give his license number,” said a guard at the gate.

 

He said in two cases none of the occupants of the vehicle had the license. “We

asked for the photo identity card,” he added. Officials said that after the

poaching incidents earlier this month, the officials found that vehicles were

entering the sanctuary unchecked. They are worried as traps to snare animals

were laid within the sanctuary.

 

Officials said the government has decided to bolster the internal security as

well. Many guards were found wanting prompting government to get strict. During

inquiry it was found that the guards on night duty on the Una-Talala road were

not keeping a record of entry of vehicles in the sanctuary. Now guards will

allow only a delay of 15 minutes. “Further delay can land the driver in

trouble,” officials added. Conservator of forest Bharat Pathak said the noting

of license number also helps the officials to have the identity of at least one

person traveling and this would tighten the vigil.

 

Kishore Kotecha’s Comment: This is an appreciating step taken by Gujarat

Forest Dept. I strongly feel this should be implemented on all the roads passing

through Gir Forest. I also suggest that usage timings for use of roads passing

through sanctuary should be reduced. Currently most of the roads are open from

sunrise to sunset i.e. to say from 6AM to 7PM. (Tulsi Shyam road is from 6AM to

9PM). Timings for this should be made from 9AM to 5PM because most of the

nocturnal animals including lion are active before 9AM and after 5PM. Also WL

sanctuaries in other states should try out this.

 

Together Lets Save Gir and Asiatic Lion

Update provided by:

Kishore Kotecha

Wildlife Conservation Trust

Rajkot – Gujarat – India

Ph: +91 98240 62062, Email: info

Web: www.asiaticlion.org, News Blog: http://asiatic-lion.blogspot.com

 

 

 

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