Bhopal: Animal Rights activist and BJP MP
Maneka Gandhi has strongly opposed Madhya Pradesh Forest
Minister Sartaj Singh`s proposed move to simplify rules for
hunting of wild boars and blue bulls as demanded by farmers
and MLAs following damage to their crops by these animals.
"Let me clarify at the outset that this decision to
permit hunting of wild boars and blue bull in the wild is not
taken for the sake of farmers, but to benefit those private
forest lodge operators who have cleints from Middle East and
other countries," Maneka said from Delhi.
She alleged that it appears that the Forest Minister must
have been influenced by these lodge operators to permit
hunting of these innocent creatures.
Already the population of wild animals in the country
is reducing and with this decision things will become more
worrisome, the MP from Aaonla in Uttar Pradesh, said.
"If a hunter is allowed to shoot in the forest, what will
happen to other endangered animals freely roaming in the wild.
Will they not get disturbed by the bullet sound. What will
happen if these animals after getting disturbed come down to
villages and towns or in case instead of a wild boar or blue
bull, an elephant got killed accidentally by these hunters,"
she asked.
The government should not allow such things to happen as
already forest cover and population of wild animals is
reducing in the country, she asserted.
Demanding sacking of Sartaj Singh from the post, Maneka
said she will raise this issue with the BJP high command.
However, Forest Minister said there is no ban in the
state on hunting of these animals since last 12 years, but
due to stiff rules and regulations, people were unable to
indulge in hunting, thus suffering damage to their crops.
"We have send a proposal to the State Law Ministry to
simplify procedures for granting permission to hunt these
animals. Once it clears the proposal then only we will
implement it," Singh said.
The farmers and MLAs of the state have raised the
issue of wild boars and blue bulls causing damage to the crops
and have urged the state government to take necessary steps in
this regard.
The permission to kill blue bull and wild boars
causing damage to crops was given in 2000 by the state
government by taking permission from the Sub Divisional
Magistrate (SDM), Principal Chief Conservator of Forest (PCCF)
R K Dave said.
However, he said that since the rules were so tough,
nobody has so far taken permission for killing them in the
state and therefore, it was felt that it should be simplified
and a proposal in this regard is pending with the state
government.
PTI
