Union Minister for Environment, Forests and Climate Change Prakash Javadekar has said that the ‘Huli’ android application devised to monitor and track the movements of tigers and other carnivores will be distributed to all forest guards working in tiger reserve areas in the country.
Addressing presspersons at the BRT Tiger Reserve in K. Gudi on Sunday, he said among the 48 tiger reserves, BRT and Bandipur are well-established. He credited this to the forest officials and Soliga tribes, who live in BRT Tiger Reserve.
Mr. Javadekar said 500 eco-sensitive zone (ECS) proposals were submitted before the Ministry for clearance. Steps will be taken to clear 300 proposals by March 26, 2016 to attain sustainable development in these areas. The Minister said the ECS of BRT Tiger Reserve had reached the Ministry through the State government.
On coffee/tea plantation cultivators using pesticides to prevent various diseases in the plantation, he said the issue will be tackled according to the Supreme Court guidelines. Mr. Javadekar said the Forest Ministry intends to bring all tiger reserves under drone surveillance to prevent poaching. He said the anti-poaching staff will be provided with Personal Digital Assistant using the ‘Huli’ software to monitor and record their daily patrolling route and other relevant information.
He said the Ministry will consider two proposals of the State government, if sent, to declare M.M. Hills wildlife sanctuary and Cauvery wildlife sanctuary as tiger reserves, following the increasing number of tiger population there.
The Minister inaugurated the 19th anti-poaching centre at Belatha in BRT Reserve and spoke to the staff regarding their work and the difficulties they faced.
Published - October 19, 2015 12:00 am IST
