The Himachal Government has urged the Centre to consider clearance of Rs 1,300 crore for the project named “Himachal Pradesh: Forests for Prosperity”, which aims to increase the State’s economic development and enhancing rural livelihood.
The State Forest Minister Thakur Singh Bharmauri held a meeting with the Secretary of Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (GOI) at New Delhi on Friday.
Various issues of the State interests were discussed. The Minister also requested to extend the time period of killing of the monkeys under the vermin declaration notification for another one year.
During the meeting, Bharmauri said the State Government appreciates the decision of the Ministry for declaring monkeys as vermin in 38 tehsils of the State.
He requested to review the Exim Policy and export of rhesus monkeys banned in the year 1978 to be reopened. He proposed to explore the possibilities for translocation of some monkey population to the North East region at the Central level in consultation with concerned authorities, as North East has suitable habitat for them.
The Minister also demanded to spare a pair of tigers and Asiatic lions for Renukaji Zoo and Gopalpur Zoo respectively. He also discussed about the proposal on Swan River Integrated Watershed Development Project , worth Rs 410 crore sent to Ministry to be funded by JICA.
Bharmouri also discussed various other agenda which included implementation of Hydel Projects in HP to issue non forest Government land for carrying out compensatory afforestation, enhancement of power of the State Government from one hectare to five hectare under Forest Conservation Act 1980 and integrated development of wildlife habitats
in wildlife sanctuaries and national parks.