NEW DELHI: The Central Government has decided to set up a dedicated task force for the conservation of tigers and wildlife sanctuaries in the country. It will also recommend the strengthening of laws against poaching.

This was announced by U.S. Misra, Director of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), here on Saturday after a meeting with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on the issue of tiger poaching in the Sariska Tiger Reserve, Rajasthan.

However, Environment and Forest Ministry officials denied knowledge of any such decision having been taken. "It was just a review meeting and no new decisions were taken. A task force on tiger already exists and the National Wildlife Crime Bureau is awaiting Cabinet approval, there is no need for a third set-up,'' they said. The Prime Minister's Office did not contradict Mr. Misra's statement.

The dedicated task force would have members from the Forest Department, the CBI and other agencies for coordination. "There was a discussion on legal aspects of poaching cases and it was decided to review the law so that bail in such cases will not be easy,'' Mr. Misra told reporters.

The Prime Minister in April last announced a special task force to review the management of tiger reserves. Chaired by Sunita Narain, Director, Centre for Science and Environment, it is mandated to suggest measures to strengthen tiger conservation and improve the methodology of tiger counting and forecasting. The task force will submit its report in three months.

Referring to the number of tigers poached in Sariska, Mr. Misra said there was evidence to show that 10 wild cats had been killed in the past two years. "The Rajasthan police have also handed over four cases of poaching to the CBI which will be taken up in due course of time," he said.

The CBI findings have emphasised the need to provide better weapons to the forest guards and police officials in the tiger reserves to tackle poachers.

"The poachers are armed and hence it is necessary that the forest officials have better arms and ammunition," he said. The CBI also stressed the need for better training of police and forest officials to counter poachers.

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