Need separate allocation for rescue op tools: City wardens

Mumbai: On the eve of Budget 2018, the Wildlife Wardens of Mumbai have stated that they expect adequate fund allocation for the rescue operations of wildlife. They asserted that that there should be proper equipment for rescue operations for which a separate fund allocation is needed.

“There are several procedures involved in rescue operations. There should be a provision of updated equipments in such operations, especially for those carried out at night. Even for procedures like DNA profiling after operations, the techniques needs to be upgraded in the city,” said Sunish Subramanian, Wildlife Warden of Mumbai.

Moreover officials from the forest department stated that they are expecting provision of funds for plantation drive for 2018-19, where the state has planned to plant 33 crore saplings. “After planting the saplings, further management of the saplings is also carried out by forest officials. Sometimes it fails due to non-availability of work force and funds,” said Jitendra Ramgaonkar, Deputy Conservator of Forest, Thane.

The Forest department from Thane division has also proposed compound walls across the vulnerable forest stretches for which it is expecting funds. “As the cases of encroachment has risen in forest areas of Thane, mostly in Kalwa and Mumbra, we have proposed a wall to prevent further reclamation and destruction of forest lands. We are also expecting funds for better scrutiny in forest areas like monitoring through satellite imageries, upgrading of forest staff among others,” added Mr. Ramgaonkar.