A CORRESPONDENT
ITANAGAR: Within a month, the State government under the leadership of Environment & Forest Minister Mama Natung has successfully managed to gather around 680 airguns from seven districts under the 'Arunachal Airgun Surrender Abhiyaan' (AASA).AASA, an initiative by the State government with an aim to protect and save wildlife was initially kicked off by the Minister on March 17 at Lumdung village under East Kameng district this year.Natung, who has made his personal interest in the mission to protect wildlife, said that the department has so far gathered around 680 airguns. The numbers will increase as some of the surrendered guns have not been enlisted in this list, he added."Our people have repeatedly ignored the importance of wildlife. But with the volunteer support to this mission to protect wildlife, we see a positive response by the people in protecting Mother Nature," he said while addressing the media at the PCCF office near here on Friday.
He said that the department will ensure that every single airgun possessed by the public is surrendered.
Calling for to create awareness among the public on the importance of wildlife, Natung also said that the concerned department and the volunteers of AASA are working in the ground for the same.
"The department is also working out on a policy to compensate the entire people who have surrendered their airguns for a better cause. However, the department has not yet evaluated the total cost of the 680 airguns surrendered so far," he said, adding that the department will continue the mission till every single airgun is surrendered.
While thanking the people for immense support to the mission, Natung also appealed to the officers and officials from the State possessing airguns to surrender.
East Siang district has so far surrendered the highest number of airguns numbering, 517 followed by East Kameng with 48, Papumpare 45, Upper Siang 35, Changlang 17, West Kameng 9 and Lower Subansiri 5. Among the 9 guns surrendered in West Kameng district, two are Kartoos, one is point 315 and the rest are airguns.
Among others, Advisor to Environment & Forest minister KumsiSidisow and PCCF RK Singh were present during the press briefing.