Minister stresses need for centre to sterilise monkeys

Minister for Muzrai, Ports and Inland Water Transport Kota Srinivas Poojary said that proposal will be submitted to the government to dig trenches on the periphery of the forest, to prevent the wild animals entering the farm land and damaging the crops.

Speaking at a meeting held with the forest department officials and members of Udupi district Bhrathiya Kissan Sangh to discuss on the wild animals menace in the district on Monday, he said about 50 per cent of agriculture crops have been damaged by the monkeys.

There is a need to open a centre to sterilise monkeys to curb their population. He also directed officials to shift monkeys to distant places.He said there is a need to lay 1,000 km trenches in the district. The government will be urged to release funds for laying at least 300 km trench. The meeting also decided to seek financial assistance for the farmers to construct a fence.

He said a proposal will be sent to the government demanding the compensation packages to the farmers who have suffered loss of crops due to monkey menace, he added.

The Minister directed Deputy Commissioner Dr M T Reju to relax rules and regulations for the farmers to procure licence to own rifle. Minister promised to hold talks with the government in connection with supplying kerosene to APL cardholders at a subsidised rate.

“At present, farmers with APL card are not given kerosene to run pumps and other farm equipments. I will also hold discussion with the government to announce support price for the copra.”

He  said he will take up the issue of including work like clearing the roots of coconut trees under Mahtama Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme.

Chief Conservator of Forest S Shanthappa, Additional DC Kumar, ZP deputy secretary D Pranesh Rao and others were present.