Himachal Government on Thursday renamed Simbalwara National Park near Paonta Sahib in Sirmour district as Sher Jung National Park saying possibilities will be explored to develop it as a tiger and elephant reserve, besides butterfly garden to attract more wildlife lovers.
Presiding over the 6th meeting of State board for wildlife, CM Virbhadra Singh said that late Colonel Sher Jung, who hailed from Nahan, was a great freedom fighter and hunter turned conservationist and to name Simbalwara National Park after him would be an honour. He said that a sub-committee would be constituted to deliberate and give suggestions to improve the wildlife habitats, besides boosting eco-tourism in the State. Chief Minister said that nature had bestowed Himachal Pradesh with rich flora and fauna which include some rarest species in the world and it was the duty of every citizen to protect the rich bio-diversity of the State.
A complete ban on green felling was imposed in mid-80s by his Government. likewise, a complete ban on hunting of wild animals was also imposed, which still was being followed strictly. He said that these steps had helped in conservation of valuable green cover and protecting wildlife of the State. Singh said that about 15 per cent of the total geographical area of the State had been brought under Protected Area Network (PAN) while
national average was about four per cent. He said a multi-pronged strategy would be adopted to control monkey menace in the State and efforts were being made to declare monkeys as vermin.