The State Government will treat forest fires like it treats other disasters, mobilising the entire Government machinery to tackle the situation instead of leaving it on the forest department alone. Further, the State Government is serious about the construction of the Kandi Road and putting up solar fencing along it to protect the wild life from the traffic and preventing them from moving to areas in the neighbouring state from where they seldom return, said the State forest and wildlife minister Harak Singh Rawat.
Addressing the media in a Press conference for the first time after assuming office of the forest and wildlife minister, Rawat said that with about 340 tigers, 1,800 elephants and 700 bird species, Uttarakhand has a unique wealth of wildlife and environment. However, the experience in tackling forest fires in the State has not been good so far. He said, “For the first time, the State Government will be treating forest fires as it treats disasters. Instead of only the forest department taking action, the entire government machinery will be mobilised in case of forest fires. We have employed at least 6,000 labourers for tackling forest fires. Out of the Rs 48 crore sum demanded by us for tackling forest fires, a sum of Rs 17 crore has been allocated for the purpose.”
Regarding the Gaindikhata-laldhang-Chillarkhal-Kalalghati-Pakhro-Kalagarh-Ramnagar road (Kandi Road) passing through tiger landscape in Terai, the minister said that the construction of this long sought motor road will benefit both the humans and wildlife. He said, “We will erect fencing and solar fencing along the road which will keep the wild animals away not only from the traffic but will also prevent their movement towards areas of neighbouring Uttar Pradesh from where their return is not always certain. This will make the wildlife move towards the available large forest area in Uttarakhand.” Referring to the Corbett national park, the minister said that due to growing pressure of tourists in Ramnagar, the authorities are not being able to allow more than 250 tourist vehicles inside in a day due to which many visitors end up leaving after attempting to enter Corbett without success for some days. “Ramnagar is about 250 kilometres from Delhi. We will soon elaborately launch the new gates at Saneh and Pakhro to enable tourists to enter Corbett from Kotdwar which will be about 205 kilometres distant from Delhi. Apart from this we are also focusing on the Haldwani zoo project costing Rs 400 crore. During the term of the previous Government, Rs 10 crore had been approved for the project but this sum could not be released due to some reasons. The current state government is working on this project on a priority basis and aims to develop the Haldwani zoo as another unique attraction in Uttarakhand like the Corbett national park is.” The minister further informed that the State government will take a decision on increasing the ex-gratia in case of people killed in human-wildlife conflict from Rs three lakh to Rs five lakh along with an increase in compensation for those injured by wild animals. Referring to the problems being faced with only two veterinarians working for the forest department, he informed that the department had prepared a proposal for creation of at least 10 posts of veterinarians in the forest department.