The demand to modernise the Forest department to tackle the rising man-animal conflict has received a major push with the State government approving a proposal worth ₹3.72 crore in this regard. A proposal submitted by the Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forest for setting up Emergency Operation Centres at the State and the Division levels in the Forest department has been approved by the State government.

This will help the Forest department procure satellite phones and digital apparatus to plug the communication gap. Through this project, the Forest department aims to coordinate and modernise the activities of the 36 District Forest Emergency Operation Centres and the State Control Room to mitigate the impact of the human-wildlife conflict. The satellite phones and other devices will provide instant information from remote areas where mobile phones and other means of communication are not available.  

Quick rescue operations

Digital arrangements would be put in place to pass on the available information immediately to district and State-level emergency operation centres. This will enable the Forest department to carry out rescue operations in connection with the wildlife conflict quickly, said Chief Wildlife Warden Pramod G. Krishnan.

The Forest department has submitted a proposal worth ₹4.32 crore. However, a high-level committee, constituted by the State government excluded a component of purchasing vehicles, amounting to ₹60 lakh, from the project. The operational costs and the annual maintenance costs of the State Forest Emergency Operation Centre and Divisional Forest Emergency Operation Centres should be borne by the Forest department.