HC directs authorities to start trapping monkeys within a week

New Delhi, Feb 13 (UNI) Delhi High Court today directed the Delhi authorities to start trapping the wild monkeys within a week and relocate them to a 100-acre natural habitat in the southern part of the capital.

While disposing of the PIL to get rid the captial of simian menace, a division bench of Justice Swatanter Kumar and Justice H R Malhotra said, ''Ensure fencing of the area so that the monkeys donot tread into the nearby localities. The outer area of the area should be fenced with high rise walls or barbed wire,'' The Court directed for the formation of a sub-committee comprising Delhi Chief Wildlife Warden(CWW), Joint Secretary Ministry of Forest and Environment, Joint Director Delhi Development Authority(DDA), Directors Enforcement of Municipal Corporation of Delhi(MCD) and New Delhi Municipal Committee(NDMC) to supervise the trapping and smooth movement of a large number of Rhesus monkeys to the habitat.

A voluntary agency had submitted that at least 20 huge cages of the size of 12 feet by 18 feet and 10 feet high should be placed at stratergic places to trap the monkeys by feeding them for days.

The government had submitted that it had developed a natural habitat in Aravali hill tracts near Bhatti Mines where the monkeys would be provided with food and water.

UNI