Garhwal Post Bureau
Dehradun, 21 Nov: The Congress party today staged a strong protest against the rising incidents of wild animal attacks in the hill districts of the state. In a dramatic show of anger, Congress workers gheraoed the Forest Headquarters on Rajpur Road here and shouted slogans against the government and demanded immediate relief for the public from the terror of bears and leopards.
Led by Pradesh Congress Committee President Ganesh Godiyal, the party workers began their march from Dilaram Chowk towards the Forest Department building. Police personnel stationed at the site closed the gates to prevent entry of the Congress workers in the Forest Headquarters which led to a scuffle between the protesters and the police. The Congress workers eventually forced the gates open and entered the premises, raising slogans against the government and the Forest Department.
They gheraoed the office of the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF) and demanded long-term security measures for people living in the hills. Brandishing a plastic gun, Godiyal warned officials that if immediate relief was not provided, rural populations would be compelled to take up arms against the wild animals entering their residential areas.
The Congress leaders also submitted a memorandum to the PCCF. The memorandum expresses concern over the alarming rise in attacks by bears and leopards in recent months and it says that these incidents have created fear and insecurity among ordinary citizens, farmers, women, livestock owners, and particularly those who enter forests to collect wood, fodder, and leaves. Godiyal noted that over the past six months, incidents of bear mauling, leopard attacks, and the killing of domestic animals have increased sharply. In Pauri and Chamoli districts alone, hundreds of domestic animals have been killed, while several people have lost their lives and many others have been seriously injured in leopard and tiger attacks. He stressed that these incidents are not only causing loss of life and property but are also disrupting livelihoods and forcing migration from hill districts.
The memorandum has demanded enhanced tracking and monitoring of bear and leopard movement in affected areas, increased night patrolling and surveillance, deployment of tranquiliser teams and emergency rescue units near villages, immediate compensation and medical facilities for families affected by man-animal conflict, and awareness programmes for villagers. It further demands fencing and warning sign boards where necessary and a stronger coordination between the Forest Department, local panchayats, and the administration. The memorandum demands drafting of two action plans, one short term plan to reduce conflicts instantly, and another long-term to prevent wild animals from entering residential areas altogether.
Godiyal urged swift action on these demands, expressing confidence that the Forest Department would take serious cognisance of this matter of public importance and implement effective measures soon.
Among those present on the occasion included senior Congress leaders like Hira Singh Bist, SK Dhasmana, Aryendra Sharma, Rajendra Singh Bhandari, Rajendra Shah, Rajkumar, Jyoti Rautela, Mahendra Singh Negi, Virendra Pokhriyal, Jasvinder Singh Goggi, Mohit Uniyal, Lalchand Sharma, Prabhulal Bahuguna, Surendra Singh Rangad, Sanjay Sharma, Upendra Thapli, Ashwini Bahuguna, Pratima Singh, Rajesh Chamoli, Sheeshpal Bisht, Om Prakash Sati Babban, Sanjay Kanojiya, Suvarsha Paul, Pankaj Kshetri, Urmila Thapa, Sonia Anand and Nidhi Negi.
