HP to check population of monkeys: Forest Minister

Shimla, Mar 10 (UNI) Himachal Pradesh Forest Minister Ram Lal Thakur today said the state government had formulated a comprehensive programme to check the population of monkeys in the state.

Replying to a question of Karam Dev Dharmani (BJP) during question hour, he said the government was also considering a proposal to sterilize monkeys by laser technique.

Mr Thakur denied that the Shimla Municipal Committee had freed a large number of monkeys in the Bilaspur district of the state after caging them in Shimla.

The state government has authorised the Divisional Forest Officer to issue permits to the farmers to kill wild animals that damage crops in the villages.

The Forest Minister said shooting could be allowed in self-defence or to save the crops from damage whereas hunting was totally banned in the state.

He also appealed to the people not to feed the monkeys on the national and state highways or in the populated areas of the towns.

Mr Thakur said a Bill has been introduced in this regard in the state Assembly.

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