PIONEER EDGE NEWS SERVICE/Dehradun Considering the recent escalation in human-wildlife conflict especially in the mountainous regions of the State, chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami directed that in areas with heightened risk of wild animals, school children will be escorted to and from school by the Forest department and district administration. Taking a serious note of the rise in damage caused by the conflict in Pauri district, he also directed the immediate transfer of the divisional forest officer. The CM issued these directions while chairing a review meeting of the Forest department on Thursday. Addressing the officials, Dhami said that effective efforts must be undertaken by the department and at the government-administration level to resolve the human-wildlife conflict. It must be ensured that the department’s team reaches the site within 30 minutes of receiving information about a human-wildlife conflict incident. The responsibility of the divisional forest officer and ranger should be fixed for this. Further, the affected must be provided with immediate financial assistance, the CM said. He also directed the Forest department to prepare a policy within two weeks to assist in the livelihood of a family that loses its earning member to human-wildlife conflict. Equipment needed to reduce human-wildlife conflict in the districts should be provided at the earliest, he said. “Our first responsibility is to protect the lives of people from wildlife and special focus should be laid on the use of new technology for this purpose. Emphasis should also be laid on finding permanent solutions to ensure that wild animals do not enter human habitations. Wildlife sensitive areas should be monitored constantly through cameras. The forest personnel should also maintain a constant vigil while also strengthening their interaction with the villagers,” the CM said. Dhami further said that a campaign should be undertaken to clear undergrowth from near settlements and the public, especially women and children must be made aware about the presence of wildlife nearby, he added. Forest minister Subodh Uniyal, principal secretary RK Sudhanshu, principal chief conservator of forest Ranjan Kumar Mishra and others were present in the meeting.
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