Special forces is need of hour

The recent killing of a tiger in the core area of Kawal reserve underlines the need for Special Tiger Protection Force there as well as at the Amrabad reserve.

The deploying of STPF in Karnataka and Maharashtra has shown good results vis-à-vis tiger protection.

In Telangana state, the forest department is facing a tough time since the beginning of the new year. The arrest of three forest officials in a nilgai poaching case soon after seizure of a tiger skin has shaken the department. Later, two leopards were found dead, raising several questions on the safety of wildlife.

If the government gives its nod for deployment of STPF, the forest department will recruit two companies for the two reserves. Each company will have three 37member platoons. The

37 members will include

27 special tiger guards and nine watchers, led by the forest range officer. The three platoons will be led by the assistant conservator of the forest.

The National Tiger Conservation Authority had approved STPF for the two tiger reserves of Telangana in 2015. The Centre will provide 60 per cent of funds in nonrecurring investments, like vehicles, firearms, accommodation and 50 per cent in recurring investment like salaries.

Establishment of STPF in the two tiger reserves would cost around `1 crore for vehicles, `85 lakh for firearms and `1.12 crore for construction of staff quarters. Apart from all these, the governments should bear `6.92 crore per annum towards salaries of STPF staff.

The forest department will form the selection committee and recruit people aged 18-25 years. All of them will undergo commando training and continue in the STPF till they reach the age of 40 and then move to other wings of the forest department.