Policy to help reduce human-animal conflict

Mumbai: In a bid to reduce human-animal conflict in the state, the state government will frame its own policy. Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis Wednesday directed that a committee be set up to frame the draft policy in this regard. Mr Fadnavis issued this direction while chairing the 14th meeting of the State Board of Wildlife at Mantralaya.

Mr Fadnavis said that the ban will be lifted this monsoon to create employment for locals in six tiger reserve projects in the state. In this connection, a detailed and comprehensive proposal will be sent to the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA).

Forest minister Sudhir Mungantiwar, public representatives and senior officials were present during the meeting. Presentations were made on boosting eco-tourism in tiger reserve projects and on the status, reasons and preventive remedies for human-animal conflict. The chief minister directed that a policy be drafted to avoid such conflict and that a committee be set up for the same. He directed that draft recommendations be sent to the NTCA to boost eco-tourism in tiger reserve projects. He stressed on the use of electric vehicles and squads of trained elephants for following the tigers and controlling the human-animal conflict. He directed that the forest department have its own veterinary officer to treat wild animals and a proposal be prepared in this connection.

The chief minister said that the path of wild animals be preserved while implementing existing and proposed projects in the Sanjay Gandhi National Park and Tungareshwar Wildlife Sanctuary. He said that proposed projects be reviewed before a committee member under the chairmanship of the additional chief secretary of the chief minister.

A mechanism be developed for the protection of wildlife, he said.