Modi announces formation of 'Lion Conservation Society'

Ahmedabad, Apr 7 (UNI) Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi today announced the formation of 'Gujarat State Lion Conservation Society', an autonomous body with participation from both state and general public to take up Rs 40 crore 'Project Lion' during the next five years for Gir Sanctuary.

Mr Modi said the Gujarat government was committed to the protection and conservation of Gir lions and called upon all like-minded people to extend necessary help to the government to curb the menace of illegal poaching of this endangered species.

He said this society would evolve a management plan and implement long-term conservation of Asiatic lions, protect and conserve Gir forest, ensure people's participation in conservation of lions and Gir eco-system through eco-development activities and promote ecological studies and ecological research.

Mr Modi emphasised the use of modern technology in conservation of wildlife sanctuary and said a task force of technical and wildlife experts should be formed to identify areas of such modern technological intervention such as DNA profile of lions, to monitor the movements of beat guards for monitoring and surveillance, use of closed circuit television cameras to identify vehicles entering Gir sanctuary.

Mr Modi also announced the formation of a monthly monitoring committee under Inspector General of Police, Junagadh Range consisting of forest and police officials from the three districts - Junagadh, Bhavnagar and Amreli to keep a watch on illegal activities and suspicious movement of people in these areas.

He announced the appointment of three hundred 'Vanmitras' (forest friends) from the local population for surveillance of various ranges in the sanctuary.

Mr Modi today said that government had decided to constitute a higher power committee headed by chief secretary to go into the details of the reasons behind the killing of lions including accidental deaths and to come out with concrete suggestions for qualitative changes in the administration and preservation of wildlife in Gujarat.

He said a separate wildlife crime cell would be formed both in the State CID (Crime) and forest department to deal effectively with the poaching menace by exchanging information and ideas with all India agencies and wildlife experts and other state governments.

Anguished over the recent killings of six lions, Mr Modi said the State government was considering setting up of 'fast track courts' to hear wildlife crime cases and also engage reputed wildlife expert lawyers to fight these cases.

UNI