Punjab govt to fence wildlife sanctuaries: Minister

Chandigarh, Dec 20 (UNI) The Punjab government proposes to fence 12 wildife sanctuaries so as to keep wild animals particularly Blue Bulls away from destroying the crops of farmers.

The government has earmarked a sum of Rs 100 lakh for this purpose in this fiscal year and in the Eleventh Five Year Plan a sum of Rs five crore will be spent for this purpose'', Forests and Enviornment Minister Tikshan Sud said while replying to a querry by Randeep Singh (Cong) on the destruction being caused to crops in the 'bir' areas of Nabha tehsil of Patiala district by wild animals.

In addition the state government strongly favours compensating farmers for the damage to their crops by wild animals. Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal has approached the central government for declaring crop loss due to wild animals as a natural calamity so that the farmers could be adequately compensated, the Minister informed the House.

The minister told the member that the Sub Divisional Magistrate of Nabha had been authorised to issue permits for hunting of Blue Bulls on the request of Panchayats of villages where crops were being damaged by these animals.

UNI