RAJAHMUNDRY: Though the state government has purchased sophisticated weapons from Germany to arm the forest personnel, the consignment is stuck at the Shamshabad airport for nearly six months, awaiting customs clearance.
The government has not shown any interest in securing the release of the consignment. Customs duty has to be paid to release the weapons. The weapons include AK-47 rifles but the details of other purchases were kept secret.
Facing a tough time in tackling felling and smuggling of red sanders especially in Nallamalla and Sechachalam forests, the state government has proposed to arm the forest personnel posted in the two forests.
In the past, there have been instances where the forest personnel were attacked and even killed by smugglers.
Sources in the forest department said a section of senior forest officials are skeptical about the weapons getting released. A senior forest official said, “There is a demand from forest officials to provide them arms. It is unfair on the part of the government for failing to get the weapons released from the Customs. There is no use if the weapons remain idle.”
