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Balasore, Aug. 6: The Similipal Tiger Reserve is struggling with staff shortage as posts of five range officers and several forest guards in the core area are lying vacant.
The core area has been divided into seven ranges including national park, Barahakamuda, Jenabil, Nahana south, Nahana north and Chahala.
There are 75 beat houses and 23 forest guard points inside the sanctuary that are manned by foresters and forest guards. However, more than 10 posts for guards are lying vacant.
“We have five range officer posts vacant in the sanctuary. While two officers from other ranges have been given additional charge, in three other ranges foresters are managing the responsibilities of range officers,” said deputy director of the tiger reserve Bikash Dash.
“We have made correspondences to the state forest department in this regard and have also apprised the minister of this during his recent visit here last week,” he said.
Wildlife activists working in the sanctuary have demanded creation of more posts in addition to filling up vacancies. They have sought powers similar to that of the police for forest officers and suggested that no land rights should be provided to tribals or forest dwellers in the sanctuary area under the Forest Rights Act.
“The Forest Rights Act is grossly misused. Political leaders are using the act to favour their supporters or revenue officers,” said Sanjukata Basha, an honorary wildlife warden of Mayurbhanj.
Another wildlife warden Bhanoomitra Acharya said: “More than 200 acres have been given to people in the sanctuary area. Most of the beneficiaries are not genuine.”
“We have drawn the attention of forest minister Bijoyshree Routray during his visit to this place. He assured us to do the needful after getting documentary evidence,” he said.
Acharya said sanctuary vacancies should be filled up with young and energetic officers with integrity.
Regional chief conservator of forest and director of Similipal Tiger Reserve Anup Nayak said the issue had been discussed at the highest level and proposals placed with the government.
“Similipal is a major sanctuary known for its bio-diversity. Poaching and poison killing are perennial threat to the sanctuary. Therefore, we have been pleading time and again to endow sanctuary staff with powers similar to that of the police. We have also placed our demand with the minister,” he said.