Balangir: The Harishankar forest, which is home to rich flora and fauna, is under the constant threat of poachers because of the forest department's indifferent attitude.

Local residents here have alleged that poaching in the forest has become a routine affair as poachers are on the prowl and animals such as wild boar and sambars are their soft target. The poachers usually lay high-tension wires in the targeted areas of the forest to kill the animal.

Ujjal Nag, a farmer of Bartia village in the Harishankar forest range, alleged that he had lodged a complaint at the forest department about a wild boar being killed by laying electricity wire in his farmland. "I am using lift irrigation for cultivation, for which I have electricity connections in my field. Poachers used the electricity by hooking and laid the high-tension cable for killing the animal. Such incident had occurred in my field about a week ago. I have lodged a complaint to the forest department. But, they didn't pay any heed," Ujjal said.

Local people said Ujjal's was not the isolated case. There are many farmers at the villages in the Harishankar range using lift irrigation for cultivation, and they all use electricity.

The Gandhamardan forest falls in the Harishankar range, and the Gandhamardan Surakshya Yuba Parishad has been striving hard to protect the forest and it animals.

Joint convener of the parishad Gupteswar Kuanr said the parishad had taken many initiatives for the growth of the Gandhamardan forest - a drive that also had led to an increase in the number of wild animals there. "But, the forest department has remained indifferent to our effort. It is neither taking any effort to nab the poachers nor is it doing anything to create awareness among the people. The forest department must take proactive steps to stop poaching," Kuanr said.

Harishankar forest range officer Sribatsa Kumura said the department was investigating the complaint of the alleged electrocution of wild boar.

"We are taking up investigation in the allegations. We are also working on a plan to avoid such illegal practice of poaching," he said.