Jammu, Mar 29: Minister for Forests and Environment Mian Altaf Thursday informed the Legislative Assembly that two incidents of leopard attack have taken place in village Hamirpora and Kakroosa of Shiva area falling in Doda constituency.
 Replying to a calling attention notice of Abdul Majeed Wani, the Minister said that a team of wild life department is located in Doda with all the necessary accessories to address the man-wild animal conflict situation on short notice.
 The minister said to address the man-animal conflict the department has established control rooms at Doda, Kishtwar, Batote and Banihal. He said the meager wildlife staff moves at short notice, where wildlife conflict incidents take place.
 “The proposal on payment ex-gratia/ compensation for loss of life livestock to the victims of man wild animal conflict was discussed in the 4th standing committee meeting of State Board of wildlife and it has been decided that the wildlife department will approach wildlife Trust of India and World Wide Fund-Nature with regard to the procedure of settling the claims on account of loss of live stock as well as funding of such schemes,” he said.
 Altaf said for compensation of livestock to be carried out on pilot scale in two districts of the state the department has been in consultation with Wildlife Trust of India and World Wide Fund Nature in order to decide the modalities.
 The Minister said that the World Wildlife Fund (WWF)has agreed to assist the JK Wild Life Department for this purpose. He said World Wide Fund-Nature plans is to hold workshop on conflict issues to understand the problem including areas in which wild animals killed the live stock of locals in large number.
 Meanwhile, Altaf Thursday introduced a bill to amend the Jammu Kashmir Non-Bio Degradable Material (Management, Handling and Disposal) Act, 2007 in the Legislative Assembly.
 Stating objects and reasons of the Bill, Altaf said that the 2007 Act was enacted to prohibit and regulate handling and disposal of non-bio degradable material in the State.
 “Over the past two years or so, the implementation and enforcing agencies have experienced some administrative and practical difficulties in implementing/ enforcing the provisions of the Act,” he said.
 The Minister said ways and means to remove these difficulties have been thoroughly examined in consultation with the concerned agencies.
 “Taking into account the views expressed by these agencies, coupled with the experiences, the State Pollution Control Board has in enforcing the provisions of law, it is proposed to amend certain provisions of the Act to remove such difficulties and for better implementation of the provisions of the Act,” he stated.

Lastupdate on : Thu, 29 Mar 2012 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Thu, 29 Mar 2012 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Fri, 30 Mar 2012 00:00:00 IST