TN, Kerala to conduct joint patrolling in forest areas

COIMBATORE: Aiming to prevent forest related offences, Tamil Nadu and Kerala forest department officials on Saturday decided to conduct joint patrolling and raids in forests at border areas.

The decision was taken at a meeting of Chief Conservators, DFOs and Wildlife Wardens of both the states near Siruvani, about 35 kms from here, forest department sources said.

The officials also discussed possibility of exchanging the list of habitual forest offenders like tree cutters, 'ganja' cultivators and wildlife poachers so that action could be taken against them, with jurisdiction not coming in the way, the sources said.

It also discussed the possibility of sharing intelligence regarding forest offenders so that extra vigil could be kept at border areas and have better coordination to prevent Naxal activities, the sources said.

The meeting was second in series, after the conference of State forest ministers held in September 2007.