HP sets up its first Forest Police Station
Himachal Pradesh Government has set up its first Forest Police Station - Van Thana - a specialised police station of the Forest Department, to check illegal activities, including tree felling, in the forest areas of the state.
Himachal Pradesh Government has set up its first Forest Police Station - Van Thana - a specialised police station of the Forest Department, to check illegal activities, including tree felling, in the forest areas of the state.
The first forest Police Station has been set up at Chhaila in Theog sub-division of Shimla district which covers important forest areas in upper Shimla. Himachal Pradesh has become the second state in the country after Madhya Pradesh to take this important initiative, a senior state government official told PTI here.
The specialized Forest Police Stations would be set up in the Himalayan state to conserve its rich forest cover by taking effective preventive and punitive action against poachers of forest produce and wildlife, HP Police Additional Director General of Police (ADGP) Somesh Goyal said.
He said that Himachal Pradesh Police has trained over three dozen forest officials in investigative skills, radio communication and use of firearms.
Approximately two thirds of the States geographical area of 55,673 square km is under forest cover. Increased economic activity in the past decade has created substantial demand for forest produce and forest land has come under pressure from development of infrastructure, industry and residential needs.