TS, Maha, Chattisgarh decide to work in tandem to protect tigers
TS, Maharashtra and Chhattisgarh to check timber smuggling, poaching in forests
Jayashankar Bhupalpally: With a view to protect the tigers, mainly in the forests of Jayashankar Bhupalpally, Mulugu and Peddapalli districts, the authorities of the Maharashtra, Chattisgarh and Telangana States have resolved to work in tandem to protect the forests by preventing timber smuggling and poaching in the forests of Godavari basin.
An ‘Interstate coordination meeting on forest and forest and wildlife protection’ was conducted at Chelpur Genco Office in the district on Thursday.
Addressing the meeting, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF) R Shobha said that the continuous surveillance would be possible to protect forest habitats through mutual coordination, regular meetings and sharing views between bordering states and bringing awareness among forest officials.
Inspector General (IG) of the National Tiger Conservation Organization (NTCA), NS Murali lauded Telangana State’s initiatives for forest conservation, and assured to see that more funds would be allocated for the conservation of tigers in Telangana. He said that there was a very much possibility of development of forests as the tiger movement was spotted in Mulugu, Bhupalpally and Peddapalli districts recently. The officials have also resolved to tighten security by setting up control rooms on both sides of the border areas, and increase vigilance through joint patrolling, coordination with the police department besides conducting meetings frequently under the guidance of senior officials to field level officers of the three states.
As part of exchange of information, it was decided to create a WhatsApp group with joint executives of the states. The officials have also decided to set up base camps at the vital locations to crack down on the timber smuggling and restrain the control over smugglers’ and their entry into forests. It may be recalled here that the tiger migration had come to a light in the jurisdiction of Eturnagaram Sanctuary after a gap of a decade prompting officials to become vigilant. The discussions at the workshop mainly focused on the measures already being taken up at the Tadoba, Indravati and Kawal tiger reserves, as well as the measures to be taken up are due to be to increase the number of tiger migration to other areas in the respective forests.
Maharashtra – Gadchiroli, Chandrapur Chief Conservator NR Praveen and Chhattisgarh State Jagdalpur Circle Chief Conservator Mohammad Shahid, Rama Rao, CCF Yavatmal, Maharashtra, also illustrated the steps being taken by them for forest development in their respective areas.
Ramagundam Commissioner of Police (CP) Satyanarayana said that the police would always cooperate for protection of forest and curb smuggling activities. CCF, Warangal, MJ Akbar, Mulugu District Collector Krishna Aditya, Bhupalpally Collector Abdul Azeem, three states Godavari Basin Districts Administration, Police, Forest Officers, Tadoba, Indravati, Kawal Tiger Reserve Project Directors and 13 DFOs participated in the workshop.
It may be added here that a meeting on tiger conservation held at Mulugu on October 22 under the leadership of CCF MJ Akbar also emphasized the need to protect tigers by taking steps to provide a conducive atmosphere for the movement of the big cats. The tiger was spotted near Azamnagar village Bhupalpally mandal in Jayashankar Bhupalpally district in August this year after more than a decade. After a week or so, it entered the Peddapalli district after crossing Manair River. A tiger was also spotted near NTPC, Ramagundam in Peddapalli district last month. A tiger and cub were reportedly spotted in the forest areas of Kannaigudem mandal under Eturnagaram wildlife sanctuary in October.
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