MALAPPURAM: In an effort to strengthen forest officials in the wake of the growing threat particularly by Maoists, the Forest department has provided a sophisticated wireless communication network and new advanced vehicles for the Forest stations in the district. The upgradation of existing security and surveillance systems of the forests station comes as part of the statewide reshuffle carried out in the department to equip its staff to face the growing threat, especially from Maoists.
The Divisional Forest Officers of Nilambur North and South have been provided with new Toyota Innova cars and Range officers have been allotted Mahindra Thar to replace old vehicles. Advanced wireless communication systems will also be installed in all the vehicles used by the Forest officials. “Besides the patrolling vehicles of the department, all the forest officers too will be equipped with hand-held wireless sets for uninterrupted communication especially during raids in forest interiors,” said K Saji, DFO of Nilambur South.
At present forest officials rely primarily on mobile phones for communication. "But the fragile coverage and poor signal strength in deep forests most often made instant communication impossible", an official of the Karulayi Range said. The security arrangements at the Poolakkappara and Vattikkallu forest outposts will also be beefed up soon with a 10-member armed Police team.
