TEAM HERALD
teamherald@herald-goa.com
PANJIM: The government is creating 400 posts of special forest guards whose duty would be to “exclusively” protect forests, forest produce and wildlife in the hinterland ‘wildlife proximity zone and forest talukas, round-the-clock.
Admitting that this is part of his planned package for mining-affected people, Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar said that this would help those selected – who would be below 42 years and physically fit ~ financially.
“The package has not yet been prepared fully. We will create various mechanisms where they will get employment or will get financial support,” he said, while also reiterating that this was indeed part of the package.
Wildlife proximity zone means panchayat which has part or whole area earmarked for wildlife sanctuary or national park including buffer zones or eco-sensitive zone (government decided 1 km zone). 70 per cent of the persons recruited will be from wildlife proximity zone, while 30 per cent are from talukas where the forest area is 50 per cent of the total area.
“The funds will be from CAMPA. There are around Rs 120 crore in the account,” Parrikar said adding that recruitment would be done as per the recruitment rules of forest guards in the department or as per procedure envisaged by the government.
“Indirectly this will take care of the mining belt unemployment,” he argued. The guards are to be deployed in talukas such as Sanguem, Sattari and parts of Canacona. Goa has one national park, one bird sanctuary and five wildlife sanctuaries, with the largest being the Bhagwan Mahavir Wildlife sanctuary.
It may be recalled that chief minister had said during the last assembly session that special forest guards would be appointed especially from the scheduled community from the hinterlands so as to involve the local community in protection of the Western Ghats.
According to the government, the objectives of the scheme are to protect and preserve the forest and wildlife treasures from destruction; to partner and involve local communities in the conservation and sustainable management of forests; to curb illegal felling of trees and poaching and to strengthen the socio–economic bond and provide livelihood to the backward communities in Goa.
