Uttarakhand sets up committee to check human-animal conflict

The Uttarakhand government has decided to set up a high-level committee to check rising incidents of human-animal conflict in areas adjacent to forest areas and suggest a mechanism to curb it, an official said on Thursday.

Also, many cases have been approved for forest land devolution within a 10-km circumference under the conserved area. Forest land transfer has been approved for works of strategic significance, the official said.

Chief Minister Harish Rawat, in a meeting of the Uttarakhand State Wildlife Board on Wednesday, had said that human-animal clashes can be reduced only by the participation of local people.

He also announced raising the compensation in case of death caused by wild animals from Rs.3 lakh to Rs. 5 lakh while also doubling the compensation amount for the injured.

The board also decided that any eco-sensitive zone around the conserved forest area will be finalised only after approval of the state cabinet.

Prompt constitution of a special task force in tiger reserves, more facilities for tourists with local participation, speedy rehabilitation of Khand village within the Chilla-Motichur Corridor and construction of the Laldhang-Chillarkhal road have also been approved.

-- Indo-Asian News Service

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