Forest office eyes more arms to tackle smugglers

HYDERABAD: After M Srinivasulu, an assistant forest beat officer, was killed by red-sanders’ smugglers in Chittoor two weeks ago, the state government is bracing up to check red-sanders smuggling. It is contemplating arming the forest personnel with more weapons to tackle the smugglers effectively.“The personnel are provided with self-loading rifles and revolvers and the government is planning to increase the number of these weapons,” says B Murali Krishna, additional principal chief conservator of forests (Vigilance).The government is also looking into the feasibility of exporting red-sanders. The international demand for red-sanders is 2000 tonnes per year, the main market being China. Exports will reduce the local demand and help check smuggling of red-sanders, Murali Krishna says talking to Express.The state forests have a stock of 6000 tonnes of red-sanders which is enough to meet the export requirements for three years. Further, the state has the potential to meet the export targets every year in a sustainable manner, he adds. This aspect will be taken up with the Institute of Forest Genetics and Tree Breeding, Coimbatore at a workshop to be held here on July 29.Lighter punishment for smuggling of red-sanders is another issue that needs to be addressed. The Forest Act does not recognise red-sanders’ smuggling as a non-bailable offence, he says and adds the department has proposed that red-sanders’ smuggling be listed in the offences under the Wildlife Protection Act which provides for a more stringent punishment.The department has sought 4,500 more personnel as infusion of youngsters into the department is crucial since it is difficult to manage hilly terrain with older work force, Murali Krishna says.At present, there are 75 base camps, 20 strike forces and 11 armed parties guarding the forest areas in the state which are vulnerable to smuggling.