Leopard attacks in Doon: CM Dhami meets with forest officials, orders vigilance in human-wildlife conflict areas
Expressing concern over the incidents of leopard (Guldar) attacks on children in various areas of Dehradun, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami met Principal Secretary Forest R.K Sudhanshu and instructed officials to work on an effective action plan to prevent such incidents. While holding a meeting in the Secretariat, the Chief Minister said that strict action should be taken against the Forest Department officials who are negligent in preventing such incidents. To catch the leopard, cages should be installed and night patrolling should be done. He said that in the areas where incidents of human-wildlife conflict are taking place, the forest department should be kept on 24-hour alert mode.
The Chief Minister said that in case of death due to human-wildlife conflict, a proposal should be brought soon to increase the ex-gratia amount provided as financial assistance to the family members of the deceased from Rs 4 lakh to Rs 6 lakh.
He said that new wild life rescue centers should also be built. In case there are more animals in the wild life than the carrying capacity, if there is demand for animals from other states, then a detailed report should also be made about this.
On this occasion, Additional Chief Secretary Smt. Radha Raturi, Chief Conservator of Forest, Wildlife Dr. Sameer Sinha were present. Yesterday. a 12 year old was attacked by a leopard in Canal road area of Dehradun. Luckily his friends were able to save him from the animal. He was later taken to Doon Hospital for treatment.
