Minister directed to probe death of wild animals in Melghat

Minister directed to probe death of wild animals in Melghat
EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE

MUMBAI, MARCH 13: Speaker of Legislative Assembly, Arun Gujrathi today directed the DF government to conduct a thorough probe into death of wild animals by drinking poisonous water in Melghat Tiger Reserve.

Gujrathi's directive came during the debate on a calling attention notice moved by Sudhir Mungantiwar, Girish Mahajan, Shobha Phadanvis (all BJP) and others in the Assembly.

Mungantiwar claimed that two peacocks, about 50 monkeys and over 200 birds had died after drinking poisonous water in the protected forest of Savalkheda in Melghat Tiger Reserve on February 18 last. Suspecting that poachers had mixed poison with water, he alleged that the local forest officers were ignoring the serious crime.

Minister for forest and environment Surupsinh Naik denied that the forest officers were guilty of negligence. It was the forest staff who first reported two peacocks, a dove and two other birds found dead by consuming poisonous water, he said.

Two suspects, Chhotelal Pawaskar and Bansilal Bethekar had been arrested by the police and remanded to judicial custody.

Mungantiwar insisted that the number of wild anmials dead due to poisonous water was much more than reported by the forest staff. Naik said the details would be available after the forest officials completed their probe.

Angry opposition members charged that the forst department was not serious over the poachers' activities. On this, Gujarathi directed the minister to conduct a thorough probe so that steps could be taken to protect wildlife in the state.