3-member fact-finding Central team likely to visit Gir soon

Junagadh, Gujarat, Apr 11 (UNI) A three-member fact-finding Central Team is likely to soon visit Gir Lion Sanctuary to get first-hand information on lion poachings that has been troubling the Sanctuary, the only abode for Asiatic Lions in Asia.

The three members -- Central Environment Department (West Zone) regional director Meeta Banerjee, CED north zone regional director Santosh Tiwari, and CED joint director Pramod Krishnan -- will make a survey of all the places from where cases of lion poachings have been reported.

Besides this, Union Minister of State for Forests N Meena is also likely to visit Gir Sanctuary soon.

The team will survey the surrounding areas with assistance of forest officials and police officers.

During its visit, the team will interact with local residents and officers of the CID which has been entrusted the task of probing into the deaths of 16 lions, including the six allegedly killed by poachers, during the first three months of 2007.

Earlier, Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi had announced the formation of 'Gujarat State Lion Conservation Society', an autonomous body, to undertake a Rs 40-crore 'Project Lion' during the next five years.

The society will evolve a long-term plan for the conservation of Asiatic Lions. Mr Modi has also expressed the need to set up a task force to identify areas of modern technological intervention like DNA profiling of lions, and to monitor movements of beat guards, among other things.

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

The Chief Minister also announced immediate actions like the appointment of 300 'Vanmitras' from the local population for surveillance. He said tightening of check posts at the entry points would be made with the involvement of police and Home Guard personnel.

So far CID sleuths have nabbed over 20 people, including a 15-member gang that had 13 women in it, suspected to be involved in poaching. The police claim to have recovered lion claws from the gang.

UNI