Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis Wednesday directed formation of a committee that will frame a policy aimed at reducing man-animal conflicts.
Fadnavis gave this direction while chairing the 14th meeting of the State Board of Wildlife at Mantralaya.
In order to create employment opportunities for locals in six tiger reserves of Maharashtra, ban on tiger reserve projects would be lifted during the monsoon season, the CM said.
In this connection, a detailed and comprehensive proposal will be sent to the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA), he said.
State Forest Minister Sudhir Mungantiwar, public representatives and senior officials were present for the meeting.
During the meeting, presentations were made on boosting eco-tourism in tiger reserve projects and on human-animal conflicts.
"The CM directed setting up of a committee for drafting a policy to avoid these conflicts," a government official said.
Fadnavis also ordered drafting of recommendations, which would be sent to the NTCA to boost eco-tourism in tiger reserve projects.
He said 100 per cent electric vehicles should be used in tiger reserve areas.
He added that to keep a tab on tigers and for controlling man-animal conflict, trained elephants was required and a separate herd of elephants would be used for the purpose.
Asking the forest department to have its own veterinary officer to treat wild animals, the chief minister said a proposal should be prepared to this effect.
Fadnavis said the paths of wild animals need to be preserved while implementing the existing and upcoming projects in Sanjay Gandhi National Park (SGNP) and Tungareshwar Wildlife Sanctuary.
For this, all projects, including the proposed ones, should be reviewed before a committee under the chairmanship of the additional chief secretary of the chief minister. A mechanism should be developed for the protection of wildlife, he said.
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