Defending this, MP Narendra Sawaikar said that Opposition Leader Pratapsingh Rane has often raised the issue of animals destroying crops and vegetation.
“There are concerns from certain sections of the society, particularly farmers of Sattari, Valpoi and the western region (about the destruction of crops). It has been discussed in the Assembly by Rane, who is himself a farmer,” he said at a media briefing.
The government was earlier also considering including the National bird peacock in the list of animals including bison, wild boar and monkeys to be declared as nuisance animals. Agriculture Minister Ramesh Tawadkar had announced that a committee of government officials was considering the matter as farmers had complained of the peacock destroying their farms.
The proposal sparked anger amongst citizens forcing the government to drop the peacock from the list of possible nuisance animals. Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar had rubbished his minister’s proposal assuring that the peacock cannot be declared a nuisance animal. BJP cadres also distanced themselves from Tawadkar’s statement claiming they stood by the CM’s decision.
Asked whether peacock is out of the ‘vermin ambit’, Sawaikar replied in the positive. To another query about bison continuing in the list of vermin animals, Sawaikar said, “CM and the Forest Minister (Rajendra Arlekar) have clearly spelt out the government policy. It is a big procedure to declare any animal as vermin. It is not an overnight job. All are taken being into consideration.”
