Saryu Roy Raises Concerns About Forest and Wildlife Conservation in Ghatshila
MLA Saryu Roy has pointed out systemic failures in the Forest Department following recent elephant deaths in Ghatshila’s Bandha Forest.
JAMSHEDPUR – Saryu Roy, MLA of Jamshedpur East, has openly criticized the Forest Department for the recent tragic deaths of elephants in Bandha Forest, Ghatshila. In his detailed observations, Roy highlighted several concerns regarding forest management and wildlife conservation.
Roy noted that during his visit to the incident site, he found significant discrepancies in the implementation of guidelines, particularly the mandated height of electric wires in forest areas. He attributed the accident primarily to the department’s negligence.
He criticized the Forest and Electricity Departments for their lack of accountability and coordination, questioning the efficacy of the elephant monitoring system established by the Jharkhand government.
As the Chief Minister chairs the State Wildlife Board, Roy emphasized the need for transparency regarding the board’s conservation advisories and criticized its focus on approving construction plans in forest areas.
Highlighting the movement restrictions for elephants imposed by the Bengal government, Roy called for ministerial-level discussions to address this issue, involving both state and central governments.
He pointed out the ineffectiveness of current measures to control elephant movements and demanded a thorough investigation by competent authorities into the recent incident.
Roy suggested two solutions for safer power lines in forest areas: underground cabling or insulating overhead wires. He urged the Jharkhand and Indian governments to jointly fund these initiatives.
Expressing concern over the Jharkhand government’s focus on fund collection for Project Elephant, he called for statutory authority and legal action under relevant conservation acts.
Lastly, Roy demanded the identification of culprits and legal action under the IPC for the recent elephant deaths in Ghatshila and surrounding areas.
Saryu Roy’s intervention brings to the forefront the urgent need for improved forest management and wildlife conservation practices in Jharkhand. His recommendations offer a roadmap for addressing the systemic issues that have led to these unfortunate incidents.
