Himachal Pradesh government will take a series of measures to deal with the menace of monkeys affecting farmers in the state, including opening three new sterilising centres and fencing fields with barbed wires.
Responding to opposition's queries on the issue in the Assembly, Industry Minister Mukesh Agnihotri, speaking on behalf of Forest Minister Thakur S Bharmouri, said the state would also request the Centre to conduct a meeting of the national board constituted for the export of animals, which would decide on the ban on export of monkeys.
"If the ban on export of monkeys is lifted, the farmers of the state shall be relieved," he said.
The issue of monkeys affecting farmers in the state was raised by BJP leaders Thakur Gulab Singh and former chief minister P K Dhumal, who said that almost 50 per cent of the farmers had left their profession due to the problem.
The minister also promised "to approach the state High Court for the vacation of stay imposed on killing wild animals including monkeys under crop protection act".
So far 71,000 monkeys have been sterilised. The government shall add 3 new sterilising centres to the existing 4 in the state, he said.
The government would also ask the Centre to include crop guarding in MNERGA to help the farmers of the state, he said, adding that the state was planning to provide 75 per cent expenditure to fence fields with barbed wire.
The government shall also put up hoardings to discourage pilgrims from feeding monkeys and stray animals around highways, he said.
