Panel to probe rhino poaching inside CNP

With rhino poaching peaking in Chitwan National Park (CNP), the Parliamentary Committee on Natural Resources and Means today formed a probe panel.

The committee directed the Ministry of Forest and Soil Conservation (MoFSC) to submit a report within a week, stating the reasons behind rampant poaching of the endangered species.

Barely two days have passed since Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal directed security chiefs and the MoFSC to come up with a more effective action plan to curb wildlife poaching.

?Wildlife poachers have a powerful network and the MoFSC alone cannot come up with solutions, so the probe panel was formed to carry out investigation rigorously,? said Gagan Thapa, member of the committee, adding that security agencies, especially Nepal Army, should be more active.

Most CA members charged that the six hotels operating inside the park were sheltering poachers.?In our field visit earlier, locals had complained that hotels inside CNP were sheltering poachers. The hotels are no more than poacher-shelters,? said Kul Prasad Nepal, another member of the committee.

The members also alleged that the Ministry of Forest of not doing its duty properly. Dismissing the allegation, Minister for Forest and Soil Conservation Deepak Bohara said, ?It?s beyond our reach. However, we are doing our bit with the limited resources at hand, for the management of the park.?

The investigation committee will leave for Chitwan tomorrow. ?We will stay there for two days. We will consult locals, security forces and park authorities and prepare a report that will be submitted to the committee for further discussion,? said Shanta Chaudhary, chairman of the committee and member of the investigation committee.

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