It also does not rule out the possibility of illegal wildlife trade occurring in the State’s wilds.
Forest Department is entrusted with issuing No Objection Certificates (NOC) for gun licences, with the District Administration being the final authority.
“There are increasing numbers of applications coming for gun licences in the name of crop protection,” Principal Chief Conservator of Forest (PCCF) Ajai Saxena said delivering the key note address on the occasion of World Environment Day celebration organized by Goa State Pollution Control Board.
“I am going to stop issuing NOCs as the reason given of crop protection is not acceptable. We can issue if one wants it for self protection but in forest areas we won’t. Let the applicants come with some valid reason. Why malign animals in the name of crop protection?” he said.
Saxena said there is a complete ban on issue of gun licences in 10kms of protected areas of wildlife sanctuaries. “I am of the opinion of why to allow even beyond 10kms of the protected area,” he commented. “The final decision will be taken by the district administration. I am going to put my say,” he stated.
The Chief Wildlife Warden said he is going to write to the applicants to opt for Gandhi guns, which are not harmful and cannot kill an animal.
The theme for this year World Environment Day was ‘Go Wild for Life – Zero Tolerance for the Illegal Wildlife Trade’. Minister for Environment and Forests Rajendra Arlekar was present on the occasion.
Saxena did not rule out the possibility of illegal wildlife trade in the forests. “I don’t claim that there is nothing happening. If you think that my forest officers catch everyone then no. It is not possible to stop everything,” he stated.
Pointing to consumption of wild animal meat and frog meat, he said that while there is a demand, poaching will occur. “People in Goa claim eating frog meat as tradition. I don’t understand what kind of tradition is there when you are disturbing a food chain,” he commented.
