Govt to unveil plan to combat monkey menace: Forest minister

Porvorim: Forest minister Vishwajit Rane said on Tuesday that state govt would come out with a comprehensive forest management plan to control the monkey menace in Goa and to plant fruit-bearing trees.

Bicholim MLA Chandrakant Shetye said that there is a serious menace posed by monkeys in Latambarcem and Sal and surrounding areas in Bicholim constituency. Shetye said that this problem is also prevalent in other constituencies.

Rane said that state govt would come out with a human-wildlife management policy, and that he would announce it in the ongoing session.

Shetye said that the reply is like an academic reply, and it looks like there is no groundwork taken up. “What steps have been taken by the department to control this menace?” asked Shetye.

Rane said that directions were given to the department to create water bodies and plant fruit-bearing trees, and some of this was already executed.

“There is a need for a comprehensive plan, and we will take up a comprehensive plan and table it in the House. The plan has to be implemented,” said Rane, adding that whatever compensation is provided to farmers due to damage to crops does not help the farmers.

Rane said that the forest department should take up this issue seriously. “We need to map where the problem is, what we are doing in the next three years and in the next five years. We can hold a meeting and discuss it. I told the department to have a meeting, and MLAs will be taken into confidence,” he said.

The minister said that management should be taken up in such a manner that animals do not come out from the forest, but that that cannot be done overnight.

Leader of opposition Yuri Alemao said that Goa does not have a human-wildlife conflict management policy, and asked whether there is any budget for one. “Will the minister come out with such a policy?” Alemao said.

Rane said that there is no issue in coming out with such a policy, and that he would speak to the chief minister and take a decision. “We have budget provision for such a framework,” said Rane.

Alemao said that there is a gap between the agriculture department and the forest department, adding that no study has been done on the monkey menace.

Siolim MLA Delilah Lobo also questioned when state govt would finalise the plan for planting fruit-bearing trees, and when would it be implemented.