Rajeev Chandrasekhar's official website - Member of Parliament

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

Ministry of Envirnoment and Forests

 

RAJYA SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO 450

TO BE ANSWERED ON 22.11.2007

Electrified Wire Fencing.

450.

SHRI RAJEEV CHANDRASEKHAR

Will the Minister of ENVIRONMENT AND FORESTS be pleased to state:-

(a)        whether it is a fact that five lions in Gir Forest in Gujarat were recently detected to have been killed due to electrocution caused by electrified wire fencing put up by the villagers;

(b)        if so, whether the matter has been investigated; and

(c)        if so, the details of the findings and the action taken to ensure that such cases do not recur?

ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT AND FORESTS
(SHRI S. REGUPATHY)

(a)        Yes, Sir. As per the information received from the State Government, five lions in Gir Forests in Gujarat have been killed recently due to electrocution caused by electrified wire fencing put up by the villagers.

(b) & (c) Yes, sir. The State Government has investigated the matter. Following the investigation, four persons have been arrested and sent to judicial custody. To ensure non-recurrence of such cases, the State Government has taken the following steps:

(1)        The peripheral region of Gir and other habitats of lion have been scanned for illegal electric fencing.

(2)        Patrolling in the peripheral region has been intensified.

(3)        Paschim Gujarat Vij Supply Company has been requested to guard against such illegal use of power and illegal electrified fencing.

(4)        Awareness campaign has been intensified in the region to sensitize villagers against wildlife crime.

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