The cabinet meeting on Wednesday and following emergency meetings chaired by Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal deliberated on the need to equip army with sophisticated GPS (Global Positioning System) technology and increase the number of army personnel in the parks. The government is now finalizing a Statement of Purpose (SoP) for the same. [break]
"The SoP that will include the code of conduct and provisions regarding army´s movement in the core and buffer zone areas will be approved by the cabinet soon," Forest Minister Deepak Bohara told myrepublica.com.
Defense Secretary Nabin Ghimire, said that the SoP has been forwarded to the Ministry of Forests, which will forward it to the cabinet. "The SoP has been discussed with Nepal Army and the ministry has forwarded it to Forest Ministry with positive recommendations," Ghimire informed.
The Ministry of Forests and Soil Conservation has already handed over four out of eight new posts in Chitwan National Park (CNP) to Nepal Army.
"We will hand over the remaining posts to the army at the earliest," Bohara said.
"The psychological impact of army mobilization in buffer zone is tremendous."
A parliamentary committee earlier this month had recommended establishing eight new posts in Chitwan.
As part of the upgradation plan, the NA men would be trained in the new MIST (Management of Information System Technology) technology. The improvised system will be based on computer network for a centralized command and control.
The new technology allows moving objects to be tracked at small time intervals. Analysis tools are able to process large streams of GPS data. GPS is a navigation system.
GPS tracking can be extended with real-time data processing, interpretation and feedback, offering new ways for wildlife management and disease control. In the MIST system, tracking device can be placed in animal body. Two rhinos in CNP have radio collaring at present.
In this regard, the government is sending 12 officials, including three NA personnel, to Thailand to learn about MIST technology operation.
They will discuss state-of-the-art technology, exchange practical experiences and define a first set of requirements towards a GPS-based behavior measurement and wildlife management system, Bohara informed. The training will be funded by WWF.
Besides introducing MIST, Nepal Army chief Chhatraman Singh Gurung during his meeting with the prime minister, has sought accommodation and other logistical support for additional NA personnel to be deployed in CNP.
The NA has also requested for free movement in core and buffer zone areas. The government is also going to provide the NA with patrolling vehicles.
"We require effective and reliable communication system and additional support for infrastructure, transport and accommodation facility to mobilize additional personnel in Chitwan at the earliest," Brigadier General Ramindra Chhetri of NA´s Directorate of Public Relations said.
Chhetri added, "The current NA strength is not in balance with the vastness of the park area."
At present, there are 850 NA men (one battalion) posted in CNP, which covers almost 900 sq km area.
Chhetri also said, “MIST technology will assist in more effective data collection during patrolling.”
Myrepublica.com has learnt from high-level NA sources that the army has proposed at least doubling the current number of deployed force in CNP, giving army free hand and using GPS collaring instead of radio collaring.
More importantly, it has requested the government to okay shoot-at-sight order to control poaching. At present, the army can shoot only after issuing initial warning to those entering the core area of national parks.
"The psychological impact of army mobilization in buffer zone is tremendous," a highly placed NA source said, adding, "This should be done along with right to shoot-at-sight to bring down illegal activities."
The government has already sanctioned Rs 50 million to fight poaching activities after eight endangered one-horn rhinos were killed recently within the span of two months in CNP. A major chunk of this budget will be used for capacity-building of NA.
akanshya@myrepublica.com
Related story
Army to launch 'Operation Mahahunt' to curb poaching
