MARGAO
Saying that the unabated poaching of wild animals in the forest areas around the Netravali Wildlife sanctuary is a cause of concern, the Shiv Sena has charged the State Forest Department officials for turning a blind eye to poaching around the sanctuary.
Addressing the media in the presence of Quepem Shiv Sena pramukh Alexy Fernandes, Shiv Sena spokesperson Rakhi Prabhudesai Naik said that accidental killings of cows and dogs around the wildlife sanctuary shows that poaching of wildlife is going on unabated with the use of county made explosives.
Producing a photograph of a dog killed by an explosive, Rakhi said that a cow and a dog have fallen prey to the explosives meant for wild animals. She feared that people living in and around the wildlife sanctuaries may become the next victims if the forest officials continue to turn a blind eye to the violations.
“Wild animals are being poached almost every week by people who are highly influential. The night parties in the illegal resorts located around the wildlife sanctuary has also become the order of the day,” she said, while strongly suspecting that these activities happen with the consent of the Forest Department officials.
Saying that the Sena is ready to provide all the information to the Forest Department if it is willing to conduct impartial inquiry into the violations of Wildlife Protection Act, Rakhi said the party will expose the strong nexus between the department and influential people.
