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Leopard Plan Stuck While Maharashtra Faces Menace
13 Mar
Summary
- A village-level scheme to prevent leopard conflicts remains unfunded.
- Chandrapur district has seen nearly 200 wildlife attack deaths in five years.
- Leopards in eastern Maharashtra often enter villages seeking food.
In eastern Maharashtra, a grassroots initiative designed to curb human-leopard conflict remains stalled despite significant wildlife threats. The 'Leopard Problem-Free Village' scheme for Chandrapur district, which has recorded nearly 200 deaths from wildlife attacks over the past five years, has not progressed beyond the planning stages. Forest officials note that leopards frequently enter villages in search of prey like stray dogs or livestock, leading to dangerous encounters.
This comprehensive scheme, intended to be implemented through the Chandrapur Zilla Parishad and gram panchayats, relies on village-level preventive measures. Vulnerable villages were to receive additional financial support. However, the proposal has yet to secure the necessary funding. Meanwhile, the state government is reportedly considering amendments to the Wildlife Protection Act, focusing on powers for leopard relocation and sterilization at a state level.
