CANACONA
Different groups have voiced outrage over the use of crude bombs to kill animals in Canacona taluka.
While the NGO ‘Goenkar’ has petitioned Deputy Speaker and Canacona MLA Isidore Fernandes, the Shristhal Biodiversity Management Committee (BMC) has met the police and forest officials to condemn practices by some farmers to plant crude bombs in a bid to protect their paddy fields and crops from destruction by wild animals.
A Briton had filed a complained to the police and forest officials after his pet dog died in a crude bomb explosion in a forested areas at Gulem on Wednesday.
Goenkar has requested Fernandes to persuade the farmers to stop laying traps, which not only threatens the lives of wild animals but also humans and some endangered forest species.
“For last few weeks, farmers have been putting up bombs to tackle the menace of wild pigs near the forest areas. But in doing so, they are not only harming wild pigs, but also other animals, including endangered animals,” stated the letter by Goenkar President Jack Fernandes.
“If this continues, a human being may get hurt by these bombs. There are many gentle ways of dealing with wild pigs. We request swift action to pressurise the farmers to remove these traps.”
Taking cognisance of the incident on Wednesday, the Shristhal BMC visited Canacona Police station on Thursday and submitted a memorandum.
BMC member Shirish Pai said necessary steps must be taken to avoid such unwanted incidents which may endanger animals and humans.
Pai said the BMC extended its willingness to help government authorities to sensitise people to create awareness in order to avoid such cruel incidents.
BMC Chairman Vinay Tubki, members Shirish Pai and Damodar Chari handed over the memorandum to the PSI on duty at the Canacona Police Station.
BMC also submitted a memorandum to the RFO Pissonem Range to put a stop to such practices.
