Post-Naxal Bastar: DRG Force to Be Diverted for Forest, Wildlife Conservation
The move comes amid growing vulnerability of the wildlife and the forests in Bastar due to inadequate forest staff after the 40,000 sq km-region became free from the organized armed Naxal activities: Reports
RAIPUR: Marking a significant milestone in Bastar’s post-conflict transition, a move is underway for diversion of the district reserve guard (DRG), the tribal counterinsurgency force of Chhattisgarh police, for conservation of the wildlife and protection of forests in the Adivasi-dominated belt in the state.
The move comes amid growing vulnerability of the wildlife and the forests in Bastar due to inadequate forest staff after the 40,000 sq km-region became free from the organized armed Naxal activities.
An official communication by the state forest department to the director general of police (DGP) suggesting to weigh the option of diverting the DRG for deployment to work in coordination with the forest personnel to curb poaching of wild animals and protect forests in Bastar, is an indication to the gradual shifting of the focus of the government from the counterinsurgency to peacetime activities in the region, sources said.
“Kindly forward your views on the matter so that necessary action can be taken”, a letter by the chief wildlife warden of Chhattisgarh government, Arun Kumar Pandey, to the DGP of the state, said.
The letter follows a communication by the state climate change department to the chief wildlife warden for necessary action in regards to suggestions to the effect made by environmental activist Nitin Singhvi.
Mr. Singvi cited the recent case of setting a patch of forest in Dantewada district in Bastar on fire by the poachers to kill the wild animals, fearing that the wildlife species and the forests of Bastar are under threat from the poachers and timber smugglers after the region became free of Maoist influence.
When contacted, Bastar range inspector general of police P Sunderraj said that Bastar police and the forest department have been working in close coordination to protect Bastar’s rich forests and wildlife.
Going forward, any deployment of police personnel for conservation-related responsibilities will be undertaken in accordance with the government directives.
“The very possibility of employing a force that was once exclusively engaged in combating Leftwing Extremism for the protection of forests and wildlife is a powerful symbol of Bastar’s transformation”, the police officer told this newspaper on Wednesday.
The DRG, a tribal combat force raised amid peaking Leftwing Extremism in Bastar in 2008, has a strength of around 5,000 in all the seven districts of Bastar division.
