Kolkata: In the wake of a controversy over the Union environment
ministry’s nod to killing Nilgais (blue bulls) in Bihar to save crops, the
Bengal government has sought the Centre’s approval to catch wild elephants to
protect farmlands and people.
“This is to put a lid on the population of tuskers. According
to our information, there are at least 500-600 elephants roaming free in
different areas of Bengal. We are hopeful that the Centre will agree to our
proposal,” state forest minister Binay Krishna Barman said.
Elephants usually stray into heavily-populated areas in the
state, damaging crops and claiming human lives. A few days ago, a tusker had
walked inside the Burdwan University campus, though no lives were lost in the
incident. Last year, an elephant had attacked people in Siliguri.
As per EXIN Times, the Bengal government’s move comes in the
wake of a row over the Bihar government hiring professional hunters to gun down
over 200 Nilgais in less than a week with the Union environment ministry’s
approval.
On Thursday, Union minister Maneka Gandhi, an animal welfare
activist in her own right, came out all guns blazing against environment
minister Prakash Javadekar, accusing him of indiscriminately killing wildlife.
“In Bengal, they (environment ministry) have permitted the
killing of elephants, in Himachal they have ordered killing of monkeys, and in
Goa they gave permission to kill peacocks,” Maneka said.
Javadekar said the permission to kill wildlife was targeted,
scientifically safe and legal if requested by local authorities.
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