Odisha Govt Forms Task Force To Avert Man-Animal Conflict

Bhubaneswar: Concerned over the rising incident of man-animal conflict in the recent years, the Odisha government has formed a state-level task force to avert such cases.

Briefing the media on Tuesday, Forest and Environment minister Bijkram Keshari Arukha said that the task force led by the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF), Wildlife, and Chief Wildlife Warden, will prepare a three-year master plan and submit it to the government within six weeks.

Referring to the emphasis of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on the reduction of man-animal conflict in the state, the minister said successful implementation of the master plan will enable the state government to properly utilise different welfare schemes like CAMPA, MGNREGS, DMF for habitat development, digging of trenches and other protective measures including IEC campaign.

He also said the Divisional Forest Officers (DFOs) should come up with the standing operating procedures (SOPs) with the Railways, National Highways, State Highways and Irrigation department officials as well as the electricity distribution companies for regular monitoring and review at the circle, district and division levels.

The task force will have the representatives of South Eastern Railways (SER) and East Coast Railways (ECoR); CEOs of the power distribution companies CESU, WESCO, NESCO & SOUTHCO; Chief Engineer (Roads), Works department; Chief General Manager (Technical) & Regional Officer, NHAI, Bhubaneswar; Regional Chief Conservator of Forest (RCCF) of Angul, Rourkela, Bhubaneswar; Save Elephant Foundation Trust; Nature Environment and Wildlife Society (NEWS), Angul; Prof Dr Indramani Nath of  Department of Surgery & Radiology, Odisha Veterinary College, OUAT; DFO, Chandaka (Wildlife) Division; Additional PCCF (Wildlife); Engineer-in-Chief, P&D, Water Resources, as members.

It can induct any other individual as its member or consult any institution for the preparation of the master plan.