Bhopal: Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has directed for live contact with residents of villages translocated from forest areas. Efforts should be made to obtain funds for these villages from Central government. In case of need, availability of funds under other heads should also be ensured. The Chief Minister chaired 14th meeting of Madhya Pradesh Wildlife Board here today. Forest Minister Gaurishankar Shejwar, MLA Manavendra Singh, Chief Secretary and Members attended the meeting. Chouhan said that balance is necessary between wildlife’s needs and common people’s expectations. He referred to farmers’ problems due to destruction of crops by wild animals on large scale. He urged Board’s members to suggest ways to control wild animals. He directed to examine feasibility of members’ suggestions and present action taken report.
The Chief Minister congratulated the department for translocation of villages. He informed that he had discussions with residents of translocated villages who expressed happiness over the process. They have urged to rehabilitate forest dwellers from forest areas. He apprised himself of increase in progeny of translocated animals.
Board members congratulated Forest Department for tanslocation of wild animals, conferring of national awards to Kanha and Satpura national parks and corridor management scheme. The board accorded unanimous sanction for stone mining of private lands in eco sensitive zones of Ralamandal sanctuary and Panna tiger reserve.
Besides, permission was also granted for widening of National Highway-3 and construction of Gwalior bypass road through Great Indian Bustard Sanctuary, Ghatigaon. Proposed works of widening of NH-12 from 2 to 4 lanes near Nauradehi sanctuary, canal construction of Hardua Khurd reservoir, intake well, water tanks, underground pipeline and laying electricity lines under water supply system of Morena city under National Chambal Sanctuary, repair of west weir of Amadehi reservoir under Singhori sanctuary’s water augmentation scheme, laying of OFC cables along the road under Veerangana Durgawati Sanctuary and layiong of electricity cables near Gaughat bridge on Ghanghata to Gujred road under Son crocodile sanctuary were also endorsed at the meeting.
Baord’s Members Abhilash Khandekar, Deepankar Ghosh of WWF, Suresh Chandra of WTI, Nitin Desai of Wildlife Protection Committee, MK Ranjeet Singh, Surendra Tiwari, Khageshwar Nayak, Mandar Pradhan, ACS Forests Deepek Khandekar, PCCF Narendra Kumar, Chief Wildlife Patron Ravi Shrivastava and other senior officers attended the meeting.
