HP to permit shooting of wild boars and Neelgai: Forest Minister

Shimla, Mar 29 (UNI) The Himachal Vidhan Sabha today expressed deep concern over the growing monkey menace and damage caused to crops by wild animal like wild boars and Neelgai and called for effective steps to protect the crops and farms of farmers of the state.

Participating in the discussion under Rule 130, initiated by Mukesh Agnihotri (Congress), members cutting across party lines focused on monkey menace and the nuisance caused by wild animals.

Highlighting the menace caused to crops by Neelgai in his constituency, Mr Agnihotri said the Neelgai was a species of antelope and not related in any manner to the sacred cow.

He also stated that more then 1000 Neelgai were plundering the agricultural fields and were becoming a major cause of traffic accidents, but nothing concrete has been done by the state forest department to check their population.

Mr Agnihotri also expressed his anguish over the fact that truckloads of stray cattle were being dumped from neighboring Punjab into border areas of Himachal creating a major problem and called for registering cases against offenders and strict checks at entry barriers.

UNI AS PS KD DB2115