PORVORIM: Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant on Friday said that the government will relook into the demand of farmers to declare certain wild animals as vermin.
Replying during a Calling Attention Motion, Sawant said that there was a proposal before government to declare certain wild animals as vermin, following request from the farmers, whose crops are being damaged.
“But that proposal did not go further. We will now have to relook into it,” he said.
Chief Minister said that efforts are on to plant fruit bearing trees in forest areas, because there is nothing left in wild for animals to eat and as a result they get into agriculture fields and habitat areas.
He said that the recent tiger killing case was one such incident of animal-human conflict.
“There has been increase in the movement of tigers in the forests of Goa. Tiger population in Goa migrates between Goa and adjoining States of Karnataka and Maharashtra,” he said adding that Forest Department is directed to demarcate the boundaries of protected areas as well as forest.
Independent MLA Prasad Gaonkar had moved a calling attention pointing out the fear and anxiety in the minds of people of Nune, Netravali, Kumari and Bhati of Sanguem Constituency and other parts of the State due to damages to the crops such as paddy by the animals such Bison, wild buffalo, wild boar, monkeys and peacocks.
Responding to the same, Deputy Chief Minister and Minister for Agriculture Chandrakant (Babu) Kavlekar said that the damage due to wild animals, the losses are compensated under Shetkari Adhar Nidhi Scheme and government also provides 75 per cent assistance to the farmers towards construction of stone wall fencing, erection of barbed wire fencing and chain link fencing.
“Also, 90 per cent assistance is provided towards erection of solar power fencing,” he said.
Kavlekar said that during the current financial year, 87 farmers have been compensated for the damages caused amounting to Rs 5.78 lakh covering an area of 20.87ha.
