TUSKER CARCASS SEIZED IN BALANGIR Monday, 19 March 2018 | PNS | BALANGIR

TUSKER CARCASS SEIZED IN BALANGIR

Monday, 19 March 2018 | PNS | BALANGIR | in Bhubaneswar

    

A carcass of a tusker was found inside the Chelia Reserve Forest in the Loisingha Range on March 16 morning by local villagers who had gone to collect firewood.

After getting information, the local forest officials along with veterinary surgeon rushed to spot. The postmortem report of the elephant body would be available within a few days and exact cause of death of tusker would be known then, said a forest official.

The incident has raised many questions about the circumstances and factors leading to the tusker’s death. Was it due to forest fire or injuries or any gunshot by miscreants? How the officials could not have any inkling about it?

Many people suspect that the elephants died due to lack of food as after the harvest of paddy there is nothing left. The only consolation is that a few water bodies exist where there is water to meet the need of the pachyderms.

The body was buried inside the jungle in the presence of lone veterinary surgeon, besides a ground level forest official. No independent witness was present there.

Locals have demanded an inquiry into the circumstances leading to death of the elephant.

FOREST FIRE BIG WORRY FOR B’NGIR OFFICIALS

FOREST FIRE BIG WORRY FOR B’NGIR OFFICIALS

Saturday, 17 March 2018 | PNS | BALANGIR | in Bhubaneswar

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Even as the forest officials in the district were happy that the percentage of forest cover has increased substantially, their happiness was short-lived as rising number of fire incidents has been devouring forest area, besides the flora and fauna since the onset of summer this year.

The frequencies of the forest fire have kept the fire squad boys on toes as at times fire is reported from multiple points.

Forest fire raged Sunadei reserve forest area on March 13 night and a plantation in Upparuddar village in Sargard section in Loisingha range on March 14 was also damaged due to fire.

Villagers telephoned to local forest officials and range officials but they did not get timely response.

Upparuddar VSS president alleged that no forest official reached to douse the fire which is distressing.

“On March 14, I inquired about the situation from Loisingha range officer who said that multiple fire points were reported and that became a reason why there were delays in reaching the spot,” said DFO Sameer Satpathy.

Forest department cannot fight fire alone with squads. Why no sensitisation meeting and training of forest officials are held this year like last year where all forest officials starting from DFO and ACF Range Officers were on the field with the staff to fight forest fire successfully, asked a local here.