my uttarakhand news Bureau
DEHRADUN, 20 Dec: Taking serious note of the growing incidents of human-wildlife conflict across Uttarakhand, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Saturday announced a comprehensive set of measures aimed at addressing the issue in a systematic and sustained manner. The initiatives include the installation of solar fencing and sensor-based alert systems, along with the establishment of modern wildlife sterilisation and rehabilitation centres in districts across the state.
Interacting with the media, the Chief Minister said that incidents involving wildlife intruding into human habitation and agricultural areas have increased in several parts of Uttarakhand. He noted that animals such as elephants, blue bulls (nilgai), bears, leopards and monkeys are causing extensive damage to agriculture and horticulture crops, physical infrastructure and, in some cases, posing a serious threat to human life. To deal with this challenge, he said, an effective security mechanism would be developed in a phased and planned manner through the use of solar fencing and sensor-based alert systems to reduce the intensity of conflict between humans and wildlife.
Dhami further announced that modern wildlife sterilisation centres would be established under the Forest Department in every district to control the population of langurs, monkeys, wild boars and bears. In addition, rescue and rehabilitation centres for wildlife involved in conflict situations would be set up in all districts. For this purpose, he said, a minimum of 10 nali of land would be reserved in hilly forest areas, while at least one acre of land would be earmarked in forest areas located in the plains.
Stressing the urgency of the matter, the Chief Minister said these initiatives would be accorded top priority and that a detailed strategy for their execution would be placed within a fortnight. To ensure the availability of necessary infrastructure and equipment, he announced an additional allocation of Rs 5 crore for the Forest Department. The funds will be used to procure essential items such as nets, cages and tranquiliser guns required for rescue and population control operations.
In a significant move aimed at strengthening preventive action, Dhami also announced the decentralisation of powers to neutralise violent animals under the relevant provisions of the Central Wildlife Act. This would empower Forest Department officials at the Ranger level, with necessary amendments to the rules to be carried out. He added that the issue had also been discussed with Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Bhupender Yadav during a meeting held a day earlier, underscoring the seriousness with which the state government is pursuing the matter.
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