While sources in Environment Ministry have expressed doubts on the feasibility of such drastic orders at the grass-roots level, some experts feel that the move would definitely keep the poachers at bay.
Comparing the implications of such orders to Kaziranga National Park (KNP) in Assam, well-placed sources in the Environment Ministry pointed out that KNP was a rare case in the country where forest department enjoyed immunity against prosecution for use of firearms, at par with police and paramilitary forces.
But here too, arms were used in cases of encounters and it was not simply “shoot at sight", reminded the sources. Further, the forest department was made to undergo special training programmes for such situations. The sources added that legal implications of the order would need to be examined before assessing its efficacy.
Sources in the Ministry further pointed out that the ground-level situation in Vidharba forest region was also sensitive with villages located in the core unlike Kaziranga. Tadoba for instance where a recent case of poaching had occurred had nearly four villages in the core. With the implementation of such orders local community may be put to risk.
Kishore Rithe, member, National Board for Wildlife, argued that such a directive is the need of the hour to keep the poachers at bay. “I welcome this decision and people should not simply criticise it saying that the orders will be misused. These kind of actions only can ensure complete security to critical core areas of Tiger Reserve," Rithe said.
The National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) of Government of India is working with the States to ensure all core area of Tiger Reserves to be made inviolate (human habitation free). “If being the case, these areas will be more vulnerable for poaching. If forest officials find somebody in these core forest areas, they will be poachers only with intention to poach. And if the forest officials fire upon them, the poachers need no sympathy," Rithe said. Read the full report here.
Source: The Pioneer, PNS, New Delhi/ Mumbai.
