Forest officers and rangers will be given ammunition for self-protection and prevention of escalation in illegal tree-felling in forests, especially in sensitive areas like Nagpur, Thane, Dhule and Chandrapur. He also said that 11 forest ranges all over the state would be linked by a satellite wireless system over three years. A proposal, submitted to the state government by the Maharashtra Electronics Corporation Limited, has been approved by the Cabinet. The State has earmarked a budgetary provision of Rs 222 lakh for 1998-99, Rs 466 lakh for the next year and Rs 361 for 2000-2001 for the department, the Minister announced.