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Staff crunch hits tiger protection in Similipal Tiger Reserve


The Special Tiger Protection Force (STPF), a dedicated force formed in August 2013 for better protection of big cats in Similipal Tiger Reserve (STR), is handicapped due to staff shortage.

Official sources said the state government is sitting over the decision to deploy 63 forest guards, who were recruited in February exclusively for the purpose. At present, the STPF is running by temporarily engaging forest guards from other forest divisions.

STR field director Anup Nayak said monitoring has been hit in the past four months as the temporary STPF were recalled to parent divisions. "Since there is staff shortage in the divisions as well, we were forced to allow them to return to their original place of posting," said Nayak.

At present, the STPF comprises forest guards from four divisions - Baripada, Rairangpur, Karanjia and STR core division. To facilitate formation of STPF, the government had asked divisional forest officers of the four divisions to depute forest guards, who were below the age of 30.

The principal chief conservator of forest (wildlife) S S Srivastav said the 63 forest guards are yet to undergo the mandatory training. "We have moved the government to exempt them from training and induct them in the STPF. The forest guards can be imparted training after joining the STPF," said Srivastav.

The National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA), which is the competent authority to take decision on formation of STPF, had sanctioned 112 dedicated forest staff for the protection force.

The STPF was formed to monitor 1195 sq km of core area in the STR. The government had estimated Rs 2 crore would be spent annually for STPF operation.


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