By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: With only 160 staff at its disposal, the State Forest Department faces a herculean task of safeguarding the protected areas of Meghalaya.
Talking to media persons here on Thursday, Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forest C Budnah said that even though the Department is trying its best to protect the wildlife of the State, the number of staff is too less to keep the unwanted elements at bay.
The Department is currently engaging homeguard personnel to assist the staff in tackling the poaching of wildlife in the State.
“We will pay them as long as we have the funds,” he added. Despite the shortage of manpower, the department is coordinating with village communities to ensure the safety of the protected areas and all kind of amenities are being provided to the volunteers for the job.
Another factor posing a problem for the Forest Department to keep a tab on things is the fact that only a small part of the forest areas in the State come under the jurisdiction of the Department.
“The total protected area under the department is five per cent which is very less and the State has a lot of community forests,” he said.
The incidents of poaching seem to be on the rise as the Forest Department recently arrested 25 poachers from Wahkhri village.
The official informed that the poachers were arrested for indulging in community hunting and accordingly produced before the court.
The Department also seized two vehicles and arms from the poachers who were hunting mainly for the meat and skin of the animal.
He also informed that the practice of community hunting has subsided and the Department is organising awareness programmes to educate the people on the need to stop the same.