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Kerala Kaumudi Online
Saturday, 26 July 2025 8.34 PM IST

Severe wildlife attacks in 273 grama panchayats; CM calls for measures focusing on hotspots

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wildlife-attacks

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has directed officials to implement special measures in wildlife conflict hotspots across the state. He made these remarks during a high-level meeting held in the CM's conference hall to assess the ongoing efforts to address human- wildlife conflicts.

273 Grama Panchayats across 75 Assembly constituencies have been identified as regions with severe wildlife attacks. To tackle wildlife conflicts, Primary Response Teams consisting of volunteers will be formed in these panchayats and municipalities. A state-level committee, chaired by the Chief Secretary, should convene a meeting to prepare a framework regarding the activities of district and local-level committees. The state-level committee should meet at regular intervals to assess the progress. The Chief Minister also suggested that MPs and MLAs from the respective regions should be included in the district-level committees.

The control room, currently functioning at Forest Department headquarters, should work in coordination with the State Disaster Management Authority. The instructions issued through the control room and information regarding wildlife attacks should be immediately shared with the District Collector, Police Chief, and other relevant departments to ensure coordinated follow-up actions. Four committees have been formed at the state, district, and local levels to provide guidelines and assess progress to mitigate human- wildlife conflict. Local committees must function efficiently, and the Chief Minister directed that all committees be fully established by March 15.

Appropriate measures should be taken to tackle wildlife attacks based on the unique characteristics of each region. The government will consider revising compensation for crop damage and livestock attacks caused by wildlife. Additionally, the possibility of implementing life insurance will be examined. The Secretaries of the Forest, Agriculture, Animal Husbandry, and Finance Departments should provide recommendations to the Chief Secretary regarding these matters. The use of advanced technology to prevent wildlife attacks must also be strengthened.

Action should be taken to prevent illegal night safaris. Roadside commercial activities near tourism zones adjacent to forests should be regulated. Proper waste management in these areas will be ensured to prevent attracting wildlife. Proper waste management should be ensured. There should be restrictions on allowing domestic animals to graze in high-risk forest areas. Plantation management authorities should take action to clear dense undergrowth. Urgent steps must be taken to ensure an adequate water supply for wildlife within the forests. Water conservation measures such as check dams and artificial water reservoirs should be implemented to ensure year-round water availability. Additionally, swamps and open areas within forests should be restored. The top priority is implementing necessary measures to keep wildlife within forest areas.

The meeting was attended by ministers A.K. Saseendran, K. Krishnankutty, and Veena George, along with Planning Board Vice Chairman V.K. Ramachandran, Chief Secretary Sarada Muraleedharan, and Additional Chief Secretaries Biswanath Sinha, K.R. Jyothilal, and Puneet Kumar. Also present were State Police Chief Sheikh Darvesh Sahib, Fire Force Chief K. Padmakumar, Forest Department Chief Ganga Singh, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests Rajesh Ravindran, Chief Wildlife Warden Pramod G. Krishnan, and Disaster Management Member Secretary Shekhar Kuriakose.

TAGS: KERALA, PINARAYI VIJAYAN, WILDLIFE ATTACKS, HUMAN WILDLIFE CONFLICTS
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