The Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB) on Thursday called upon
various government agencies in the region to strengthen enforcement so
as to tackle increasing crime.
WCCB is a statutory multidisciplinary body established by the
Government of India under the ministry of environment, forests and
climate change (MoEFCC) to combat organized wildlife crime in the
country. Nagpur being centrally located and well connected nationally,
there has been a spurt in wildlife crime here, specially trafficking
of wildlife parts by railways.
WCCB additional director Tilotama Varma, who was in city on Thursday,
sought to strengthen wildlife enforcement through better coordination
between state forest department, customs, local police, railways,
coastal authorities, enforcement directorate, CISF, CBI, and municipal
corporation etc Chief wildlife warden Shree Bhagwan chaired the
three-hour meeting at Van Bhavan. At least, 35 officials of other
departments including field directors, APCCFs and CCFs were also
present.
“We have asked other departments to appoint nodal officers so WCCB can
coordinate with them for passing on information and intelligence
sharing,” said M Maranko, regional deputy director of WCCB, Western
Region, Mumbai. WCCB urged railway officials to step up surveillance
aboard the trains. “We also discussed developing intelligence
mechanism and putting display boards informing people about legal
provisions against wildlife crime,” said Maranko.
In a bid to combat illegal wildlife trade going on through e-commerce
websites, WCCB has already joined hands with major e-retailers. WCCB
is also planning to organize sessions for volunteers including
students and professionals sensitizing them about wildlife crime.
Similar meetings have also been planned in Goa and Gujarat