Summary:
Illegal fishing is being carried out at massive level at more than half a dozen sites in the restricted Barahi forest range. NTCA rules also prohibit collection of forest produce by anyone, including departmental staff.Divulging information to TOI, villagers said, “It’s better to convey the matter of illegal fishing to mediapersons than to departmental officials. Pilibhit: Despite a ban on fishing activities inside Pilibhit tiger reserve (PTR), there are more than six sites where the permission to carry out fishing in the core area of PTR’s Barahi forest range has been granted allegedly by forest officials after accepting bribes to the tunes of Rs 2 to Rs 2.5 lakh per site.During a visit to Barahi forest range, TOI, too, found fishing nets spread across Sutia water channel.Confirming the on-going illegal activity in Barahi, PTR field director H Rajamohan told TOI: “I have deployed trustworthy forest staff to collect all information about the illegal activity. The permission of fishing at each site was granted by forest officials for Rs 2 to Rs 2.5 lakh for a year.” They claimed that the offenders use large trawl nets for fishing.Notably, in February-March, more than 300 labourers had collected khus roots at massive level for Kannauj-based scent manufacturers and had also set up more than three dozen thatched huts in the Barahi range. After TOI reported the matter, the then principal chief conservator of forest (wildlife) SK Upadhyay ordered an inquiry.Questioning PTR authorities’ claim of “intensified field patrolling and intensive monitoring”, secretary of wildlife biodiversity conservation society Kaleem Athar, also a volunteer of Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB), said, “If such is their commitment, then why illegal activities are often reported, especially during the current month which is being observed as Tiger Safety Month (December 1-31).” “All these official claims are hollow and confined only to the files..