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The Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh, directed action to check trade of Wildlife articles like tiger and leopard skins along the northern border. Responding to reports from environment organisations regarding sale of tiger / leopard skins in countries along the northern border, the Prime Minister has directed that the issue be taken up with the authorities in China and Nepal through diplomatic channels. A decision to set up a National Wildlife Crime Control Bureau has already been taken and directions have now been given to place the proposal before the Cabinet by the third week of October, 2005.
It has been also been decided that the Ministry of Environment and Forests would immediately organise training of the staff of the Indo Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), the Sashakta Suraksha Bal (SSB), the Border Security Force (BSF) and Customs who man the routes which open into China and Nepal on detection of cross border trade in wildlife articles. The Minister of State for Environment is expected to visit China shortly to personally take up the issue with Chinese authorities and request them to act urgently on the matter.
YSR/HS/CS
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