CM chairs meeting of U’khand State Wildlife Board
By Our Staff Reporter
Dehradun, 19 Jul: Presiding over the 20th meeting of the Uttarakhand State Wildlife Board at the Secretariat here, today, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami emphasised that more effective efforts should be made by the Forest Department to reduce human-wildlife conflict. Dhami said that a well-planned policy should be made to prevent this and work done to implement it effectively. The CM also directed that the families of the deceased and the injured in human-wildlife conflict be provided the permissible assistance or ex-gratia as soon as possible. The places adjoining the forests not having bio-fencing should be covered with bio-fencing as soon as possible. Forest Minister Subodh Uniyal also participated in the meeting.
Dhami said that to prevent human-wildlife conflicts, patrolling by forest personnel should be increased in the identified hot spot areas. Forest personnel should be given adequate equipment like camera traps, ANIDERS (Animal Intrusion Detection and Repellent System) and tranquiliser guns, etc., to deal with the problem. Along with this, movement of wild animals should also be monitored through modern equipment like drones. Special focus should be maintained in those divisions where more cases of human-wildlife conflict are being reported.
The Chief Minister also directed preparation of a DPR soon on the master plan of the proposed zoo and safari in Haldwani. He directed the officials to complete the development and upgradation of Chaurasi Kutia under Rajaji Tiger Reserve as per international standards. He also directed making of wildlife based documentaries and films for wide publicity of various national parks to promote wildlife tourism in the state. He also suggested organising bird watching camps at various places. He said that the proposed development plans in forest areas should be completed soon by staying within the ambit of rules, so that the general public can get convenience.
It was stated at the meeting that approval has been received from the National Board for Wildlife for the Jamrani Dam Multipurpose Project. Approval has been received from the National Board for Wildlife for Kimsar-Bhogpur Motor Road in Yamkeshwar Block of District-Pauri Garhwal, which will be constructed soon. Tiger Conservation Foundation has been formed for Rajaji Tiger Reserve which was pending for 9 years. A 10-year proposal for forest landscape restoration is being prepared, incorporating all the points of wildlife management in the state, for which an amount of Rs 32 crore has been approved by the Government of India in the financial year 2024-25. An amount of Rs 10 crore 50 lakh has been allocated to the forest divisions for the purchase of modern equipment in the financial year 2023-24 to prevent human-wildlife conflict in the state.
It stated that, after the year 2009, the rates of forest rest houses in the state have been revised. The master plan of Haldwani Zoo and Safari, Haldwani, was approved by the Central Zoo Authority, Government of India. The work of monkey sterilisation is being done in mission mode in the state, in which 39,398 monkeys have been sterilised from July 2023 to 31 March 2024. To prevent human-wildlife conflict, “Living with Leopard” programme is being run in 5 forest divisions (Garhwal, Tehri, Pithoragarh, Bageshwar and Narendranagar). For immediate prevention of incidents of human-wildlife conflict, 65 rapid response teams have been formed under 31 forest divisions.
Forest Minister Subodh Uniyal, MLAs Banshidhar Bhagat, Diwan Singh Bisht, Suresh Singh Chouhan, Chief Secretary Radha Raturi, Principal Secretary RK Sudhanshu, Chief Conservator of Forests Dr Dhananjay Mohan, Chief Conservator of Forests, Wildlife, Dr Sameer Sinha, Special Secretary Dr Parag Madhukar Dhakate, ADG AP Anshuman and board members were present at the meeting.
