PANJIM: Following worries raised by public and senior legislative members about increasing man-animals conflict causing damage to crops and even to human life, the State Government on Wednesday told the Legislative Assembly that a process has been initiated to declare certain wild animals, including the monkey as ‘vermin’.
Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar told the House that the government has been receiving several memorandums from sections of the society on the rising nuisance caused by monkeys, wild boars etc. “The time has come when we need to declare some animals as vermin. It is true that a few wild animals have become nuisance,” he said.
“Following directives from the central government, we have already initiated steps to declare certain wild animals as vermin. This process will be completed soon,” the Chief Minister added.
The announcement came during a calling attention motion moved by the Leader of the Opposition, Pratapsingh Rane who highlighted the fear in the minds of the public due to increasing cases of Kyasanur Forest Disease (Monkey fever).
Pointing to the fact that in the recent past monkeys have become major nuisances, the MLA sought to know the action the government has taken in order to prevent the disease from spreading. “I am an animal lover but when any animal becomes a nuisance, it’s time to get rid of it before it kills humans,” he said.
Rane said that in the interior villages of Sattari, Bicholim and Canacona, there has been a rise in man-animal conflict with crops, vegetation and other human properties being damaged. “These animals are vermin,” he said.
Earlier, replying on the Monkey Fever issue, Deputy Chief Minister and Minister for Health, Francis D’Souza said that though the number of cases is detected, the villagers are averse to getting themselves vaccinated to protect themselves from the disease.
“We have begun a vaccination drive in the villages after some patients with monkey fever were detected. But we have found that people are not ready to take the vaccination. Even if they take it for the first time, they don’t come for the follow up. This issue can be solved with vaccinations,” he informed the House.
The monkey fever disease has been traced amongst the villagers of Mauxi, Zarmen and Copordem in Sattari taluka. Since January last year, a total of 42 cases have been detected with one death. “Due to strengthened surveillance, the detection could show a rising trend,” the Minister said.
D’Souza said the All India Institute of Virology has issued certain guidelines which are circulated to the villagers. The minister clarified the disease is not spread from one human
to another.
