The Odisha Krushak Mahasangha has demanded that the Government take immediate measures to check poaching of wild animals and provide them all protection so that their numbers would increase.
“Two to three elephants and other wild animals are being poached every week in the State. This needs to be checked or otherwise the already depleted ecosystem will be worsened,” said Mahasangha president Bibhudhendra Pratap Das in a letter to the Forest and Environment Secretary recently.
Stating that protection of animals are badly necessary, Das suggested that an award money between Rs10,00 and Rs50,000 be declared by the Government for those who would inform about poachers.
And it should be assured that the names of informers should be kept in secret. Besides, a 24x7 hour mobile squad should be pressed into service in forests, he said.
He too suggested that the Government appoint retired defence personnel with to catch hunters.
They may be given police power with arm and ammunition, he said.
Similarly, Das proposed that a special court be established in Angul so that cases relating to animal crimes would be disposed of early.
There should be laws to award life imprisonment to poachers in line with Karnatak laws, said Das.