File picture of forest guards on a boat on turtle protection duty in the sea

Paradip, March 12: Authorities of the Bhitarkanika National Park have urged the Jagatsinghpur district administration not to engage forest personnel in poll duty as it would hamper the ongoing wildlife and turtles protection drive.

“We have written to the authorities to exempt forest guards from poll duty after the district election officer had drafted all guards of the Kujang forest range for the poll duty. The guards are now engaged to protect the endangered Olive Ridley sea turtles on the beach and in the sea. They are also patrolling in the sea to prevent illegal fishing in the Gahiramatha marine sanctuary.

We have 20 vacancies and if the guards were posted on election duty, our work would be affected. The Gahiramatha marine sanctuary is the world’s largest rookery of the Olive Ridley turtles. Turtles conservation will be severely affected,” said officer of the Rajnagar mangrove (wildlife) forest division Kedar Kumar Swain.

The authorities have banned sea fishing between November 1 and May 31 within 20km from the coast in the sanctuary to save the endangered marine species.

Since the enforcement of fishing ban from November 1 last year, 150 marine fishermen have been taken into custody and 35 fishing crafts seized for unlawful fishing activity within the Gahirmatha marine sanctuary, said the forest officer.

“Last year, around four lakh turtles laid eggs in Gahiramatha on March 17. Lakhs of turtles have already congregated near the Gahiramatha beach for mass-nesting, for which we need more forest guards,” he said.

Additional chief electoral officer Naba Kumar Nayak said: “Forest officials from the wildlife parks and sanctuaries will not be posted on election duty for the forthcoming poll in the state. But, those officials, who work in the offices outside the forest areas, will be engaged in the poll process. Vehicles, boats and employees of wildlife sanctuaries and national parks will not be requisitioned for election duty.”

Jagatsinghpur collector Satya Kumar Mallick said: “We requisitioned employees of all the government departments, including the forest department, in the poll duty. The administration has received the letter from Rajnagar divisional forest officer. As desired by the forest department, the administration would not impose poll duty on the forest employees engaged in forest and turtle protection work.”