Assam government to raise new forest battalion

The Assam gvernment has decided to raise a new battalion to exclusively protect the forests and wetlands in the State. "The chief minister has given approval to raise the battalion for the protection of forests and wetlands,"said State Forest Minister Rokybul Hussain while addressing reporters.

The government has also decided to take legal action against the forest officials who fail to check encroachment of forest land, illegal felling of trees and setting up of unauthorised saw mills in their respective areas. "Instructions were already issued in this regard," he said.

The recent leopard attack in Guwahati has forced the Assam government to think of dealing with the rising incidents of man-animal conflict in the State.

Hussain said that a committee headed by Suraj Chand, PCCF (Wildlife) had been constituted to study the issue of man-animal conflict. "The committee will suggest ways and means to deal with the problem. It will submit its report to the government within a month,"Hussain added.

A leopard attacked a man in Guwahati after straying into a residential area on last Saturday. Four people were injured by the big cat and one of them succumbed to his injuries.

The minister also said that the Forest Department had seriously discussed the leopard attack issue with the wildlife experts. "We are serious about such incidents. But it seems that a section of media and Non-Governmental Organisations have hyped the issue and created a panic in the minds of the people," he said.

The minister said that the wildlife population has increased in Assam due to the effort of the State Government. "The rhino population has increased to 2202 in 2009, which was 1672 in 1999. At present, the tiger population is 143 in the State, elephant population has risen to 5620 in 2011 and the dolphin population has increased to 258 in 2008," he said

Hussain also informed that the use of power fencing has proved successful in some parts of the Upper Assam and the system would now gradually be introduced in other parts of the State where such incidents frequently take place.