Dehradun, 15 Dec 2004
The stand-off between the Uttaranchal government and striking state forest guards has intensified with the authorities suspending 40 guards for negligence of duty.
The state government has so far suspended 40 forest guards as a disciplinary action against them, official sources said here today.
Nearly 3,200 forest guards across the hill state are on indefinite strike since November 26 demanding protection from poachers and the timber mafia apart from a hike in their salaries which, according to them, have remained unchanged for the last over 20 years.
The guards have threatened to close down the famous Jim Corbett and Rajaji National parks, the two main attractions in the state, if their demands were not met.
“We will be compelled to shut both Rajaji and Corbett parks if the state government does not accept our demands immediately,” President of forest guard association Narottam Sati said.
Meanwhile, the strike has put a big questionmark over the security of thousands of animals, including rare Asiatic elephants and leopards in all the six national parks of the state.
Experts say that nearly 500 animals are killed every year by poachers and other miscreants.
The sources, however, said that the guards would soon be invited for talks. PTI
Src: http://www.teamindia.net
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