The 19th meeting of Uttarakhand State Wildlife Board was chaired by Chief Minister Dhami.
Dehradun (IANS). While presiding over the 19th meeting of the Uttarakhand State Wildlife Board at the Secretariat, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami directed to work in a focused manner to solve the problem of monkeys and wild boars.
Along with doubling the target of sterilization of monkeys, the Chief Minister asked them to present practical solutions. The Chief Minister directed to make arrangements to ensure the distribution of human wildlife conflict relief amount in 15 days. The proposal to increase the relief amount from Rs 4 lakh to Rs 6 lakh on the death of a person in the attack of wildlife should be brought in the cabinet at the earliest.
The Chief Minister talked about taking necessary steps to reduce human-wildlife conflict. He also gave instructions to install solar lights in villages near forests, create public awareness and appoint adequate number of forest personnel. He said that the places where human wildlife conflicts are more, such areas should be identified. So that people can be warned in advance.
The Chief Minister said that work should be done on bio-fencing to protect the crops from wild animals. Eco tourism, wild life tourism and bio fencing should be made a regular agenda of the board meeting.
The Chief Minister also inaugurated the Uttarakhand Wildlife Helpline. Congratulating Uttarakhand on being at the third position in the number of tigers, the Chief Minister said that the local people deserve special congratulations in this. This is a significant achievement considering the area of the state. It should be widely publicized from the point of view of wild life tourism.
Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said that the long pending Tiger Protection Force should also be constituted soon. He said that the youth should be connected to this by forming a Tiger Protection Force. People of rural areas adjacent to forests have an important role in wildlife conservation. In such a situation, people should be made more and more aware, training of wildlife rescue and rapid action force should also be given to the people from time to time.
The Chief Minister said that work will have to be done in a time bound manner to develop Chaurasi Kutiya as an international tourist destination. In case of delay, responsibility will be fixed. The implementation of the decisions is possible only when the responsibility of the concerned officers is fixed.
The Chief Minister said that on the instructions of the Prime Minister, the amendment 2022 of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 has been brought. Many of its provisions are in the interest of Uttarakhand. This information must be given to the officials of the concerned departments. It was informed in the meeting that Human Wildlife Conflict Prevention Cell and Uttarakhand Human Wildlife Conflict Prevention Fund have been established. Uttarakhand Wildlife Helpline has also been set up under the cell.
A revised proposal for Human Wildlife Conflict Relief Distribution Fund Rules has been prepared. In this, apart from increasing the ex-gratia amount given earlier, a provision has also been made for ex-gratia amount on the death of a human being from wasp and bee. Cabinet Minister Subodh Uniyal, MLAs Renu Bisht, Ram Singh Kaida, Chief Secretary SS Sandhu, DGP Ashok Kumar, Principal Secretary RK Sudhanshu, Principal Forest Conservator Anoop Malik and other members of the State Wildlife Board were present in the meeting.
