The State needs to draft and act on a blueprint for environmental protection and mitigation of human-wildlife conflict while also ensuring that there is no compromise on national parks and other protected areas, said Corbett Tiger Reserve Honorary Wildlife warden Brijendra Singh.
It may be recalled that Singh had also been appointed head of a State high powered committee on human-wildlife conflict earlier in April this year though he had resigned from this post shortly after his appointment.
Talking to The Pioneer, Singh said that decisions need to be taken without delay to mitigate human-wildlife conflict and ensure protection of wildlife. He said, “We love wildlife too, but I believe that if for example, the increased wild boar population is causing increased harm to agriculture, their population must be controlled. It may seem cruel, but if such steps are not taken, people may start using crude flour-bombs, which would end up either killing or maiming the boars.
However, there should be no compromise on protected areas. We also need to ensure that the blocked wildlife corridors are cleared. For example, it is of vital importance to clear the corridor connecting the Corbett Tiger Reserve and Rajaji Tiger Reserve. By ensuring wildlife corridors are free for movement of wildlife, we will not only improve the lot of the wildlife but also mitigate the human-wildlife conflict. We already know what the problems are and which areas are more affected. What is needed is that the State make a blueprint and then act on it without further delay,” he stressed.
Referring to his resignation from the post of the high powered committee head, Singh said, “The committee had been formed on my suggestion. However, I saw that the chief minister held some meetings with top officials on human-wildlife conflict which made me realize that the CM heading the committee would be more effective for getting the intended work done. Since my heading the committee would simply amount to duplication of work and waste of government money, I decided to resign shortly after being appointed to head the committee,” he added.