HP to take up deployment of Rakhas under MNREGA to save crops

Expressing concern over the ruining of agricultural produce by monkeys and wild animals, the Himachal Pradesh government today said it will take up the issue of deploying 'Rakhas' (Guards) under MNREGA for protecting the crops.
Forest Minister Thakur Singh Bharmauri told the House that wild animal menace has assumed alarming proportions and the government was deeply concern over it but inspite of consistent efforts by successive governments nothing much could be done.
He was replying in the Assembly to a discussion on a private member resolution moved by Maheshwar Singh, Mohinder Singh and Ravinder Singh Ravi calling for preparing a comprehensive plan for protecting the crops and animals of farmers from wild animals, especially monkey and blue bull.

He said that the Union government has approved a Rs 500 crore ambitious German aided project to improve the forests in the state to tackle this problem by suitable plantation in the forest land to provide food to animals.
The government also planned to convene an umbrella conference of stakeholders for making a comprehensive plan to tackle this menace, the Minister said, adding the government would also make efforts to discourage people from feeding the monkeys which was causing migration of the animals to human habitation.
Bharmuri said that inapt artificial insemination was also creating problem of stray animals in the state and government would try to address it by taking suitable steps.