Hyderabad: Telangana High Court on Tuesday summoned the principal chief conservator of forests and field director of Kawal Reserve Forest, Adilabad, to be present in court on Thursday to explain the prevailing ground position in the forest and why electric wires were laid in the restricted area leading to death of a tiger last month.
It also wants to know how many antelopes died unnaturally, other than being killed by tigers.
A division bench comprising Chief Justice Thottathil B. Radhakrishnan and Justice A. Rajasekhar Reddy gave the directive while dealing with a Public Interest Litigation filed by Ms Diya Sur, a wildlife conservationist whose plea is to protect tigers in the Kawal Forest reserve. Their numbers are decreasing because of continuous poaching and other illegal activities in the forest.
The bench wondered how poachers could get access to electricity in the deep forest where human movement is strictly prohibited and restricted.
It also asked the government about cases slapped against poachers and how many have been arrested for killing the tiger.
“How many power connections exist in the deep forest area,” the Telangana High Court Chief Justice asked. “Has this Kawal reserve forest been declared a sanctuary?”
On the contention that tiger numbers were falling, the bench said: “Don’t be over cautious about tigers and animals in the forest. Just leave them alone without creating any hindrance for them. They won’t ask anything from us other than leaving alone.”
Mr K. Laxman, assistant solicitor general, representing the Union of India, said a section of tribes was involved in hunting, electrocution and poaching.
He said the Centre extends technical and financial support to maintain and preserve all forests.
