Wood smugglers, poachers active
The forests in the Athagarh division have turned a hub of wood mafia and poachers since in broad daylight valuable logs get transported to outside city areas with least problem.
The poachers are quite active. They are killing different wild animals on a regular basis and making feast with lots of wine and flesh. They are making a fortune by selling skins of deer and tusks of the pachyderms, even as the Forest authorities and police are acting as mute spectators.
Divisional Forest Officer Arun Kumar Mishra told that his department was facing a staff crunch which had affected adversely patrolling of the forests.
He revealed that all the three ACFs, two Forest Extension Supervisors, four Forest Rangers, one Deputy Forest Ranger and 10 Forester posts were lying vacant in the division since long. As a result, the department was not properly equipped to face the poachers and wood smugglers.
Among the present staff in the Athagarh forest division, about half are women employees who do not take part in night patrolling. This apart, the department does not have enough vehicles in good condition.
A local body of journalists has demanded that the Government take steps on urgent basis to fill the vacant posts.