Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF) Mohammad Iliyas Rizwi observed that as the vexed red sanders smuggling from the forests of the State is thoroughly an economic issue, ‘encounters’ would no in way can stop the felling of the precious wood species, but this can be achieved only through promoting constant public awareness.
In an exclusive chat with The Hindu at Madanapalle on Friday, the PCCF said that he firmly believed in the concept that 100 criminals might escape, but not a single innocent should be punished. “There was a big commotion countrywide when 20 woodcutters from Tamil Nadu were gunned down in Seshachalam hills in April 2015. Fortunately, the issue died down naturally. Had the deceased been from locals, it would have blown out of proportions,” he said.
The official said that each time a group of woodcutters enter the hills, definitely four among them would be so poor, and take up the errand for livelihood. “The others may be smuggling operatives. When we open fire, the innocent ones would also be killed, and justice will be jeopardised,” Dr Rizwi said.
He felt that a powerful public awareness campaign could alone work as the best deterrent to red sanders smuggling. “Already we are doing our best to spread the message of evils involved in red sanders smuggling in the forest fringe villages, and this helped a great deal in making the youth desist from entering the clandestine trade,” the PCCF said.
The Forest Department chief maintained that “the entire red sanders smuggling and our pursuit after the offenders” is like “catching Veerappan.” He said that despite forming a tough task force to nab the forest brigand, he shook three States for more than two decades, by forming his own network of informants, stakeholders and opponents, and using the element of corruption. Similarly, the red sanders smugglers has their own network to hoodwink the police and forest wings. “In forest fringe villages, its a fact that the locals would know the perfect direction through which the smuggling operatives take to reach the forests, and where the felling of trees is going on. They (the people) should come first to inform the police and forest officials. This practice will sure give us great results and definitely put an end to the smuggling activity,” he said.
Global tenders
Referring to the poor response to the global tenders for red sanders stocks, the PCCF said that slowly the department is set to reap rich dividends. “Our teams are going to several South East Asian countries, and meeting the customers there to participate in the bidding. Its giving good results and it will catch up with the system in no time,” he said.