Odisha Government has formed a State level Task Force for preparation of a Master Plan for the next three years for reduction of man-animal conflict in the State.
The Task Force headed by Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife) and Chief Wildlife Warden will submit the report to the State Government within six weeks, Minister Forest & Environment Bikram Keshari Arukha said on 20 October.
Representatives of South Eastern Railways & East Coast Railways, CEOs of CESU, WESCO, NESCO & SOUTHCO, Chief Engineer (Roads), Works Department, C.G.M(T) & RO, NHAI, Odisha, Bhubaneswar, RCCF, Angul, Rourkela, Bhubaneswar, Save Elephant Foundation Trust, NEWS, Angul, Prof. Dr. Indramani Nath, HoD, Department of Surgery & Radiology, Odisha Veterinary College, OUAT, Bhubaneswar, DFO, Chandaka (Wildlife) Division, Addl. PCCF (Wildlife), Engineer-in Chief, P&D, Water Resources will be the members of the task Force, Mr.Arukha said.
The task force can induct any other individual as its member or consult any individual /institution for preparation of Master Plan, the Minister said.
“Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has always stressed upon endeavours for reduction of man-animal conflict in the state. It is, therefore, essential to prioritize the activities and streamline different interventions to reduce man animal conflict and have a master plan for 3 years so that funds under different schemes are spent as per this master plan,” Mr.Arukha said.
In addition to department schemes funds under site specific wild life plans for forest diversion cases, CAMPA, MGNREGS, DMF can be effectively utilized for habitat development, digging of trenches and other protective measures including IEC campaign, he further said.
DFOs should have SOPs with railways, NH, State Highways, Irrigation officials, Electricity distribution companies with an institutional arrangement of regular monitoring and review at the Circle, district and division level, Mr.Arukha added.
