Guwahati: Assam forest minister Atuwa Munda avoided an urgent summon from Assam Governor P B Acharya to meet the latter at the Raj Bhavan here on Sunday citing prior engagement, but the director of Kaziranga National Park, M K Yadava had to rush to the Raj Bhavan to face the ire of the Governor who was dismayed at rising incidents of poaching of one-horned rhino the ‘well-protected’ National Park.
Expressing his grave concern over killing of another rhino in Kaziranga on Friday last, the sixth one to be poached in this year so far, the Governor commented that the poachers didn’t parachuted to Kaziranga grassland to kill rhinos. He wondered why despite deployment of 1200 anti-poaching personnel, the state forest department hasn’t been able to prevent poaching of rhinos. “If they can’t quit, they must resign,” the Governor commented.
“The poachers must be taking shelter in the fringe areas of the park. The security personnel must identify and apprehend them. If anyone found aiding the poachers, strong action should be taken against them,” The governor said.
The Governor has sought a written report from the KNP director on rhino poaching in the park and steps that are being taken to stop the menace.
The forest department and the KNP authority have been maintaining that the weapons provided to the anti-poaching staff in Kaziranga Park can hardly match the sophisticated weapons used by the poachers and it has been a major hurdle in the sustained efforts to curb poaching.
The chief minister Tarun Gogoi reacted sharply to Governor summoning the forest minister and stated that no one should cross the line. But, the Governor also dismissed allegations that he was being critical of the government as it was headed by the Congress and said, “I am concerned about the development of the state. I am the governor of the state, and not a party man anymore.”
Rhino poaching incidents have shown an upward trend since 2011. According to official figures five rhinos were poached in the KNP in the year 2011, 11 in 2012, 27, in 2013 and 27 in 2015. Six rhinos have been poached so far this year.
Rhino poaching had seen the worst phase in the KNP in the year 1992 when 48 rhinos were killed by the poachers.
On being asked about his remarks that appeared to have contradicted the state government’s version, the Governor said, “We are on the same wave length. We are all together in this. Since I have taken over, this is the fourth statement I am making on the issue calling for a favorable solution.”
On the other hand, Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi said, “Poachers are from outside Assam. After poaching, the horns are smuggled outside Assam. So we need cooperation of the Government of India. It is not true that we are not serious about the problem.”(with inputs from PTI)
