Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and his deputies Ajit Pawar and Eknath Shinde, along with Forest Minister Ganesh Naik and senior bureaucrats, had a detailed meeting to find a solution to the issue of the rising number of leopard attacks in the state, especially in the sugarcane belt.
The government has agreed to provide funds for purchasing cages to capture leopards that enter or are seen near human settlements. Representation Pic/Ashish Raje
The Maharashtra government has decided to alter school timings, set up more rescue centres, and even explore granting permission to some to kill leopards declared as man-eaters. On Tuesday, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and his deputies Ajit Pawar and Eknath Shinde, along with Forest Minister Ganesh Naik and senior bureaucrats, had a detailed meeting to find a solution to the issue of the rising number of leopard attacks in the state, especially in the sugarcane belt.
Schools in areas that see leopard attacks will operate from 9.30 am to 4 pm. Ajit Pawar said, “Leopards usually move around at night. A change in school timings will ensure that students travel and move in daylight. This will help minimise leopard encounters.” In the past two months, over a dozen people have been attacked by leopards, causing fear and anger among people.
Such is the outrage that people have been blocking roads and demanding Naik’s resignation as forest minister. Recently, the forest minister visited a family who lost someone to a leopard attack. After the meeting, Naik said, “The situation makes me feel that I have been made a minister to get my image maligned.” With growing pressure and anger of the people in rural parts of Maharashtra, the Mahayuti called an urgent meeting to address rising leopard-human conflict cases. The meeting was held at Mantralaya.
Besides changing school timings, the state government has agreed to provide funds for purchasing cages and equipment to capture leopards that enter or are seen near human settlements. Speaking with reporters after the meeting, Pawar said, “Two dedicated leopard centres are being planned to house captured animals.” The Nationalist Congress Party chief and key ally in the Mahayuti government even mentioned that the state will also explore whether it can get permission to kill leopards that have been identified as man-eaters or repeat attackers.
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