Armed commandos are to be deployed in the jungles of southern India to deter poachers from capturing and killing endangered tigers, state government officials announced on Wednesday. The 54-strong Special Tiger Protection Force will patrol the two main tiger reserves of Bandipur and Nagarhole national parks on the Karnataka-Tamil Nadu state border, the Karnataka government in Bengaluru said. The squad, which includes forest rangers, has undergone a three-month course in jungle survival techniques as well as weapons training. “We plan to induct an additional 54 personnel into the force for deploying in the other three tiger reserves across the state,” B.K. Singh, the state’s principal chief conservator of forests, told reporters.
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Big cat concern
Jaipur, Jan. 4: The Rajasthan Cabinet on Wednesday gave approval to a proposal for developing Rajiv Gandhi Biosphere reserve to provide safe corridor for wildlife and conservation of tigers in the state. It was approved at a meeting of the Cabinet chaired by chief minister Ashok Gehlot here and the proposal will be forwarded to the Union ministry of forest and environment for its clearance, an official said. The reserve would cover forest blocks, water bodies, sanctuaries, national park including Ramsagar sanctuary and waterbody, Kesarbagh sanctuary, Ranthambore national park, Chambal sanctuary among others through a corridor. — PTI
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135 soon to be 24-hr railway helpline
AGE CORRESPONDENT
NEW DELHI, Jan. 4
The Indian Railways is set to announce a round-the-clock, countrywide, dedicated helpline number for rail users. Though an official announcement is awaited, the helpline number is likely to be 135.
The Railway Protection Force (RPF) will be mandated to operate and maintain the helpline service, which will have its control room in New Delhi.
Staff, which will include some RPF personnel, would be given the requisite training to operate the service. Over `4 crores have been earmarked for getting the service up and running, particularly for establishing a network of security control rooms for quick collection and dissemination of crime-related information.
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ls may celebrate 60 years of 1st ls sitting
Age Correspondent
New Delhi, Jan. 4
The 60th anniversary of the first sitting of the first elected Lok Sabha is expected to be celebrated in a big way on May 13. Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar has discussed about programmes to be held to mark the anniversary with her colleagues a couple of days back. Parliamentary sources said on Wednesday said that Ms Kumar constituted a high-level advisory committee with secretary-general T.K. Viswanathan to draw a plan of three-day celebrations in the Central Hall of Parliament.
President Pratibha Patil will inaugurate the function which will be addressed by the vice-president, the Prime Miniser. Former Speakers, former deputy speakers and erstwhile members of Parliament are also likely to be invited.