AGARTALA, August 19 (TIWN): The state cabinet today resolved to induct 22 fishery officers, 73 fishery assistants and ten vacant posts of Lower Division Clerks (LDC), Minister for Finance Bhanulal Saha said here today. Speaking to reporters at the civil secretariat after conclusion of the cabinet meeting this morning, Finance Minister Saha said.

He added that three health department officials including an anaesthetist Dr. Mandira Chakraborty, ophthalmologist Samir Kumar Das and Tripura State Blood Transfusion Council member secretary Swapan Kumar Chanda would be reappointed after they went to superannuation in April and July.

The cabinet today further decided to defer the proposal to set up an elephant conservation reserve at Gandhari between Udaipur and Amarpur sub-division in Gomati district. 
"We have decided to start elephant conservation by initiatives of the state government instead in the 124.84 square Km patch of Gandhari area which doesn't have any human habitation", he said.

The minister said that local self-government bodies, forest department functionaries and local residents would be consulted through a joint committee to decide on the next course of action to this end.

"Proposals would be invited from these committees. Wildlife conservation in the forestlands have become critical with expansion of tribal habitations in forest lands these days", said Saha.
According to forest department estimates, the state has currently got 25 elephants in two groups, moving around in Atharomura range and Gandhari.