PANAJI
Deputy Conservator of Forests Anand Jadhav has stated that the notification to issue permission for hunting of wild boar which endanger life and property, including damage to agriculture and horticulture crops on private cultivated lands, will only be under exceptional cases and where a control of wild boar becomes inevitable.
"There was a consistent demand from politicians on behalf of farmers that wild boar should be declared ‘vermin’. However, declaring an animal as vermin is not a simple process. A thorough scientific study and statistical data is required to push for such a proposal. Also, an animal can be declared vermin for a specific period and specific area,” said Jadhav.
“Hence, the forest department has come out with a specific solution to the problem with the notification which is valid only for one year. Besides, it cannot be taken as a free permission to kill wild boar indiscriminately,” Jadhav added.
Meanwhile, BJP leaders have welcomed the government’s decision in the interest of farmers.
"This decision will benefit farmers dependent on their fields. Only the farmers will know the pain of their crop being destroyed by the wild boar or bison,” said BJP General Secretary Narendra Sawaikar.
BJP Spokesperson Sidharth Kuncalienker also welcomed the government’s decision, terming it as a 'historic decision' as wild boar had become a pest for farmers.
