In order to ensure the safety of forest land and animals in the Arawali foothills, the Haryana Government has decided to hire private security guards and deploy them in the forest area. The forest department has also identified 52 points where those guards will be deployed. Apart from Gurugram, these guards will be posted in Faridabad, Rewari, Nuh and Mahendragarh district in Haryana.
“These special guards will be present 24 hours in the forest area. We have identified 52 security points where these guards will be appointed. The security personnel will also keep an eye on anti-social elements in the area. The guards can seek police help whenever they required,” Conservator of Forest (Gurugram circle) D. Hembram said.
The official also said that if the government gets good results due to this decision, it will hire more private security personnel in the second phase.
“These security guards will be hired on a contractual basis and they will ensure the safety of forest land and animals. Security personnel’s will also undergo training programme so that they can prevent and deal with anti-social elements. The guards will also attend patrolling duties in the Aravalis,” a senior forest official said.
The official said the government is mulling over giving walkie-talkies to these security guards so that they can contact each other.
Out of 52 security points in the Arawali foothills, 11 points will be in Gurugram, 8 in Faridabad, 15 in Nuh, 10 security points in Mahendragarh and 8 in Rewari district.
Talking about the deployment of the personnel the official said they are getting several complaints about illegal mining activities, illegal hacking of trees, poaching. They had also recovered two metal traps in the forest area two months ago. Sources said the department has been struggling from a shortage of guards, as a result of which, many senior officials themselves attend patrolling duties in the Aravalis.
last year, an animal activist found a peacock stuck in a trap in the Raisina area of the Aravalis. After he raised an alarm, activists uncovered more traps in the area. This forced the state government to deploy guards to protect birds and animals, an official said.