Gadchiroli March 2 (District Correspondent) District Congress committee President Mahendra bramhanwade has demanded stringent action against the forest officials responsible for the death of elephant calf in Kamlapur elephant camp.
In a statement issued here Mr. Bramhanwade has said that a female elephant had given birth to a new calf at the Government Elephant Camp at Kamalapur, the only one in the state. But within a few moments, the shocking news of calf’s death came out.
An attempt was made by the central government to end the glory of the district by taking away the elephants of Kamalapur to Adani’s private zoological museum in Gujarat. However, after a protest by the Congress Committee and opposition from some social organizations, the High Court stayed the migration of elephants.
While there are only eight elephants left in the district, the death of a new-born baby elephant is an unfortunate incident, and this is not the first time that this incident has happened, Bramhanwade has pointed out. Four babies were born to a female elephant named Mangala but all of them died. In all these cases concerned forest officials are responsible.
Due to non-providing of any kind of medical facility and doctor to this elephant and due to the irresponsible attitude of the forest administration, the baby elephant died. Earlier, District Congress had staged a bell ringing protest in front of the Forest Minister Sudhir Mungantiwar’s house and his attention was attracted to the various problems of the Forest Department in the district. But still the forest minister does not seem to have taken any step in that regard.
In Gadchiroli district, there is carelessness regarding the wild animals, a large number of trees are being felled for the Surjagad project in the district, the forest administration has not yet succeeded in catching the T6 tigers which have been killing many people, the forest administration is not paying attention to all these problems and the officials are not having any kind of experience, Bramhanwade has further alleged.
The forest minister is still silent on the issue and he should resign taking the responsibility of resolving the public issues. The forest officials concerned should be immediately suspended and all the necessary facilities should be provided in the elephant camp to avoid further casualties, he has demanded.
