Uttarakhand CM Pushkar Dhami Calls for Strengthened Efforts to Curb Human-Wildlife Conflict

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has directed the Forest Department to enhance efforts to mitigate human-wildlife conflict. Dhami emphasized effective policies and equipment for forest personnel, and urged quick assistance to affected families. Plans for new zoos, wildlife tourism, and infrastructure projects were also discussed.

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has urged the Forest Department to intensify efforts to address the growing issue of human-wildlife conflict in the state. This directive came during the 20th meeting of the Uttarakhand State Wildlife Board at the Secretariat on Friday.

Dhami stressed the need for a well-planned policy to mitigate such conflicts and called for serious efforts in its implementation. He highlighted that families of the deceased and injured victims should receive permissible assistance promptly and areas lacking biofencing should be covered at the earliest.

To further prevent human-wildlife conflict, Dhami recommended increased patrolling in hotspot areas, equipped with camera traps, tranquilizer guns, and drones. The focus should be on regions with higher conflict incidents. The Chief Minister also directed the swift preparation of a master plan for a zoo and safari in Haldwani, along with the development of Chaurasi Kutia in the Rajaji Tiger Reserve to international standards.

He advocated for the creation of wildlife documentaries and films to promote tourism and suggested organizing bird-watching camps. Additionally, Dhami emphasized that forest area development projects should be expedited while adhering to regulations.

The meeting also revealed that the National Board for Wildlife approved the Jamrani Dam Multipurpose Project and the Kimsar-Bhogpur Motor Road in Yamkeshwar Block, Pauri Garhwal. The Rajaji Tiger Reserve has formed a Tiger Conservation Foundation after a nine-year delay, and a 10-year forest landscape restoration proposal is underway with a Rs 32 crore grant from the Government of India for the financial year 2024-25.

An amount of Rs 10.5 crore has been allocated for modern equipment to prevent human-wildlife conflicts in 2023-24. Following the revision of forest rest house rates after 2009, the Central Zoo Authority approved the master plan for Haldwani Zoo and Safari. The state's monkey sterilization mission has sterilized 39,398 monkeys from July 2023 to March 2024. The 'Living with Leopard' program continues in five forest divisions to address the human-wildlife conflict, supported by 65 quick response teams across 31 forest divisions.