A delegation of the Sattari Farmers Forum meets with deputy collector Pravin Parab.
VALPOI
Insisting that they did not want compensation for their destroyed crops and livestock, farmers in Sattari taluka have demanded that the State government takes measures within 10 days to ensure that wild animals do not entering human habitation failing which they would be free to take action on their own.
The Sattari Shetkari Manch (SSM) submitted a memorandum to Sattari Deputy Collector Pravin Parab and also interacted with him on the matter.
The SSM said though the government has permitted the killing of wild boar under strict terms and conditions, the farmers did not have guns and would be helpless to stop wild boar from destroying their plantations.
They claimed that proposals have been submitted to the government for gun licences from farmers, but they are yet to receive these licences.
The SSM said farmers did not want compensation from the government, but wanted the government to tackle the menace of wildlife destroying crops and livestock. They issued a 10-day ultimatum to the State government to come out with a decision favourable to them, failing which the Sattari farmers would be free to take further action.
Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Ashok Joshi and others said they had put forth five major demands to the government.
“The government should allow farmers to kill wild boar and monkeys as they are a nuisance. We also want the government to facilitate the process of renewal of firearms licence, to make it possible to transfer licences from one name to another and also to start this process online. We also want a gun licence to be issued to any farmer who owns more than one acre of land,” said Joshi.
“Guns should not be taken away from farmers even during election period as protection of agriculture is essential to their livelihood.”
“The 'buffer zone' of the protected sanctuary area should be extended up to 1 km for hunting of endangered animals. The habitat of animals declared as protected by the government should be fixed in the forest area by erecting a fence in the forest area and the government should take the responsibility to ensure that these animals do not enter our fields,” Joshi added.
Copies of their memorandum have been submitted to Chief Minister Pramod Sawant and various other authorities.
Others present in the SSM delegation included Milind Gadgil, Manikrao Rane, Vaibhav Bapat, Shanu Nene and Vishwesh Parab.
The Sattari Shetkari Manch (SSM) submitted a memorandum to Sattari Deputy Collector Pravin Parab and also interacted with him on the matter.
The SSM said though the government has permitted the killing of wild boar under strict terms and conditions, the farmers did not have guns and would be helpless to stop wild boar from destroying their plantations.
They claimed that proposals have been submitted to the government for gun licences from farmers, but they are yet to receive these licences.
The SSM said farmers did not want compensation from the government, but wanted the government to tackle the menace of wildlife destroying crops and livestock. They issued a 10-day ultimatum to the State government to come out with a decision favourable to them, failing which the Sattari farmers would be free to take further action.
Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Ashok Joshi and others said they had put forth five major demands to the government.
“The government should allow farmers to kill wild boar and monkeys as they are a nuisance. We also want the government to facilitate the process of renewal of firearms licence, to make it possible to transfer licences from one name to another and also to start this process online. We also want a gun licence to be issued to any farmer who owns more than one acre of land,” said Joshi.
“Guns should not be taken away from farmers even during election period as protection of agriculture is essential to their livelihood.”
“The 'buffer zone' of the protected sanctuary area should be extended up to 1 km for hunting of endangered animals. The habitat of animals declared as protected by the government should be fixed in the forest area by erecting a fence in the forest area and the government should take the responsibility to ensure that these animals do not enter our fields,” Joshi added.
Copies of their memorandum have been submitted to Chief Minister Pramod Sawant and various other authorities.
Others present in the SSM delegation included Milind Gadgil, Manikrao Rane, Vaibhav Bapat, Shanu Nene and Vishwesh Parab.
