Saturday, 24 February 2024 | PNS | DEHRADUN
Chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has expressed serious concern at the continuing incidents of human-wildlife conflict in the State. He has directed the Forests secretary and the chief wildlife warden to prepare an effective work plan to check the rising incidents of attacks on people by tigers and leopards in different parts of the State. He said that the department must remain alert 24 hours in conflict affected areas. A quick response team of trained departmental personnel should be sent immediately to areas from where human-wildlife incidents are reported. He further instructed that solar fencing should be erected on the boundary between villages and jungles to prevent wild animals from venturing into human habitations.
Dhami said that it has been seen that for some time now the Forest department is helpless in preventing human-wildlife conflict in different parts of the State. A long-term plan should be made considering this, in order to prevent such incidents. Trained veterinary officers should be posted 24 hours in areas affected by human-wildlife conflict. The CM said that the existing rescue centres are already packed with rescued leopards and tigers, leaving no space for other captured big cats. A work plan should be made without delay to tackle this problem, he said.
It is pertinent to mention here that last month the CM had held an emergency meeting with senior officials and had directed the chief wildlife warden to contact the officials concerned of other States regarding the possibility of shifting leopards and tigers from Uttarakhand’s rescue centres to zoos and rescue centres in other States. With no progress having been made in this direction so far, Dhami once again directed officials to initiate action in this direction. He further said that in case of a human-wildlife conflict incident, the police and administration are responsible for the law and order at the local level. No negligence will be tolerated in such cases, he stressed. The CM also directed officials to prepare a scheme for 100 per cent facilitation of toilets and cooking gas connections in villages adjoining forests so that the people do not venture into the jungle.
It is pertinent to mention here that there have been at least a dozen incidents of big cats attacking humans in different parts of the State in recent months. At least three women were killed by a tiger in the Dhela range of Corbett tiger reserve, after which a tiger was recently tranquilised and captured by the Forest department. Similarly, incidents of human-leopard conflict have also been on the rise in recent months in different parts of the State.
