Bhubaneswar: Expressing serious concern over the unnatural death of nearly 50 wild elephants during the current year, Forest, Environment and Climate Change Minister Ganesh Ram SingKhuntia has ordered a detailed departmental inquiry into the deaths.
The Minister has written a letter to Forest, Environment & Climate Change, Additional Chief Secretary (ACS), Satyabrat Sahu in this matter.
Shri Singkhuntia has ordered for division-wise thorough investigation on jumbo death incidents and to take stringent action against those found responsible and to submit a report within a month.
Describing the matter as very alarming, the Minister said that additional care and protective measures are necessary to curb the issue.
Shri Singkhuntia stated that the government has been taking various steps to prevent the unnatural death of the elephants through several steps such as deployment of Gaja Sathis, and Rapid Action Teams etc.
However, more care and sincerity on the part of forest officials have become the need of the hour to ensure a safe environment with statutory protective measures for the safety of the elephants, he suggested.
“Priority must be given on the matter and errant officers must not be let scot free,” the Minister said.
Responsibilities will be fixed against the officers found negligent and inefficient in safeguarding the life of the jumbos, he warned.