Take steps to curb leopard attacks, draft proposal for increasing ex-gratia: CM
Tuesday, 16 January 2024 | PNS | DEHRADUN
Expressing concern at the rise in incidents of leopards attacking children in various areas of Dehradun, chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami directed the principal secretary of forests, RK Sudhanshu that work should be undertaken according to an effective work plan to prevent such incidents. He also directed that a proposal should be made for increasing the ex-gratia provided to next of kin of those killed by wild animals.
Chairing a meeting with officials at the secretariat, Dhami said that strict action should also be taken against Forest department officials found negligent towards preventing leopard attacks. Cages should be placed to catch the leopards and night patrolling should be conducted in the affected areas. The CM stressed that the Forest department should remain alert 24 hours in those areas of the State where incidents of human-wildlife conflict are occurring.
He further directed officials to prepare a proposal for increasing the ex-gratia provided to the family of those killed by wild animals from Rs four lakh to Rs six lakh. The officials were also directed to build new wildlife rescue centres. A detailed report should also be prepared regarding demand for wild animals from other States in case the wildlife in Uttarakhand is more than the carrying capacity, the CM instructed. Additional chief secretary Radha Raturi and the chief wildlife warden Samir Sinha were also present in the meeting.
It will be recalled that a 12-year-old boy was injured in a leopard attack on the outskirts of Dehradun on Sunday evening. Earlier in December, a four-year-old boy in a village on the outskirts of the city was killed by a leopard which lifted the child from the courtyard of his home.
