Latest news with #AnamalaiTigerReserve
New Indian Express
21-05-2025
- General
- New Indian Express
Temporary Anti-Poaching watchers not paid salaries for a month in Tiruppur
TIRUPPUR: Forest staff including Anti-Poaching watchers (APWs) working on a temporary basis, under Anamalai Tiger Reserve (ATR) in the Tiruppur division, raised complaints that they have not received their salaries for the last month yet and salaries are being delayed often. Sources said there are six forest ranges under the Tiruppur forest division, including Tiruppur, Kangeyam, Udumalaipet, Kozhumam, and Amaravathi. Around 150 people, including APWs, Eco Watchers, Anti-Depredation Squads (ADS) staff and sub-staff, are temporarily working in these ranges. "Delayed disbursement of salaries has made it hard for us to meet our family's needs. We struggle to meet our monthly commitments. If salary is paid as usual in the first week of the month, it would sort our worries" an APW, who did not want to be named, said. "APWs are engaged in important tasks including patrolling forest areas, preventing poaching and human-animal conflicts, setting up fire-lines, monitoring the movement of outsiders and detecting wildlife casualties. They work as assistants to forest guards and forest watchers, working in anti-poaching camps set up inside forest areas. Most of them are tribals. APWs working on a temporary basis in the forest department are paid a monthly salary of Rs 15,000," said G Joseph, a retired forest officer. Speaking to TNIE, B Rajesh, DFO of Tiruppur, said, "Due to administrative reasons, there has been a delay in disbursing the current month's salary to temporary APWs. Everyone's salary will be paid within two days."
The Hindu
08-05-2025
- The Hindu
Kumki Chinnathambi steps in for Narasimhan at Poondi ahead of Chitra Pournami
The Forest Department has brought kumki Chinnathambi from Kozhikamuthi elephant camp of the Anamalai Tiger Reserve (ATR) to Vellingiri Andavar temple at Poondi in Coimbatore district to guard people from wild elephants that often enter the temple premises. The department has already stationed another kumki Narasimhan, also from Kozhikamuthi camp, at Poondi for about a week. Chinnathambi was brought on Wednesday night as an additional layer of security, anticipating heavy inflow of people for Chithra Pournami. According to the department, a large number of people are expected to visit the temple at Poondi in the downhill and trek Vellingiri hills for Chithra Pournami. As the temple is situated in the midst of reserve forest areas of the Boluvampatti forest range, movement of wild elephants could be expected anytime. Narasimhan was brought to Poondi last week for the safety of devotees, following recurring incidents of a tusker entering the temple premises in search of food. 'Chinnathambi was brought to Poondi as an additional safety measure. Presence of kumkis will deter wild elephants from approaching the area. The kumkis can also be used to drive out wild elephants, if any, enter the temple compound,' said Boluvampatti forest range officer T. Suseendranath.
