Unhappy with non-compliance, IG calls off tiger cell meet

Vijay Pinjarkar, TNN | Jun 28, 2013, 01.27 AM IST NAGPUR: The 15th divisional tiger cell meeting called on Thursday in the backdrop of a series of tiger poaching cases in the region ended abruptly after Rajendra Singh, the special inspector general (Nagpur Zone) who is also chairman of the cell, expressed displeasure over non-compliance of wildlife related issues by the forest department. The meeting started at 3.35pm at Van Sabhagruha. When minutes of the last meeting in February were being read out by PK Mahajan, the member-secretary of the cell and Nagpur deputy conservator of forests (DyCF), Singh sought information on action taken on covering of open wells, data on patrolling, creation of paths near electric lines etc. But the forest officials remained mum. Hence, a displeased Singh called off the meeting. All SPs, forest officials and their representatives from five districts and NGOs were present. "These are internal matters which I cannot tell you," was all Singh told TOI. Admitting that the deadline of July 30 has been set to comply with decisions taken in earlier meetings, Mahajan said that the meeting did not proceed. The next meeting will be held in the first week of August. FCR for 2 poachers till July 3 Tiger poachers Barsul and Yarlen, who were arrested by Jabalpur forest officials and brought here on Tuesday, were granted forest custody remand (FCR) until July 3 by a JMFC on Thursday. Badlu, Chika and Siri, the other poachers, are already under MCR till July 3. Badlu (Mamru), one the three arrested poachers for killing a tiger in East Melghat, in his statement had said that Barsul was involved in killing a tiger in Akot wildlife division. But Melghat wildlife officials have denied poaching in their area. The JMFC denied permission to hand over the poaching case to Melghat owing to technical reasons. A senior magistrate will have to take a decision on this. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/nagpur/Unhappy-with-non-compliance-IG-calls-off-tiger-cell-meet/articleshow/20806032.cms