Assam: FIR filed against local administration for destroying egret colonies

GUWAHATI:  The Assam forest department authorities have filed FIR against Executive Member of Tangla Municipal Board for his action leading to killing of scores of egrets at Jalukbari area under Ward No.1 in Assam's Udalguri district.

Forest Minister, Parimal Suklabaidya directed Principal Chief Conservator of Forest (Wildlife), Amit Sahai to probe into the incident and submit a report immediately.

Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma had earlier directed the Forest Minister to enquire into the incident of killing of egrets.

Also Read: Assam: Local administration chops down bamboo trees destroying Egret colonies, says birds spread COVID-19

Talking to InsideNE, Assistant professor of Wildlife sciences, Don Bosco University, Nilutpal Mahanta, said that the act is a sheer violation of Wildlife Protection Act 1972 under Article 9.

“Also they have misled people by stating that bird excreta can lead to the spread of COVID-19 without any scientific proof”, he added.

Divisional Forest Officer, Dhansiri Forest Division, Udalguri, NK Bordoloi investigated into the incident and found that Executive Member, Tangla Municipal Board, Shantanu Das, had served notices on June 8 to five residents of Ward Nos.1 and 2 to clear the bamboo grooves nesting the egrets and their fledglings as the 'droppings of birds were 'creating unhygienic environment which may increase the risk of COVID-19 infection in the area'.

Scores of birds were killed when the bamboo groove was hewn by municipal workers.

Meanwhile, the Forest authorities have filed an FIR against the Executive Member of the municipal board, Das for the unfortunate incident at the Tangla Police Station. Also a case will be filed against Das under Section 55 of Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 in the Court of the Chief Judicial Magistrate, Udalguri.

Divisional Forest Officer, Bordoloi informed that 88 egret fledglings have been rescued and sent to the Centre for Wildlife Rehabilitation and Conservation at Kaziranga.

Egrets are listed under Schedule IV of Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.

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