Kerala seeks Centre's nod to kill problematic wild animals straying into human habitations
The Kerala government has written to the Union Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change seeking permission to kill problematic wild animals straying into human habitations and pose a threat to people's life and property.
In line with a recent Cabinet decision, the State has sought immediate action to delegate powers vested with the Union government in the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, to the Chief Wildlife Warden, and to 'simplify the related procedures, protocols, guidelines, advisories and so on' to eliminate animals, particularly those included in Schedule I of the Act.
The government had earlier raised multiple requests to amend the law, declare wild pigs as vermin, and to shift bonnet macaque from Schedule I to Schedule II to enable management and mitigation measures at the 'State-level in a site-specific manner.'
While these requests are yet to be considered, the State, has used to considerable effect, the provision of the Wildlife (Protection) Act to delegate the authority held by the Chief Wildlife Warden to Honorary Wildlife Wardens to kill wild boars that venture out of forests into human-inhabited areas and pose danger to society.
While the measure has been found to be 'quite effective' in managing human-wild boar conflicts, the government recently decided to request the Centre to provide/extend such powers for other species that create problems in human habitations outside forests.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Gehlot blames govt for power cuts, energy min says ‘no load shedding'
Jaipur: Former chief minister Sunday criticised the Bhajan Lal govt for frequent power cuts in the state. In a post on X, he said, "When the BJP govt in Rajasthan completed one year, they loudly proclaimed that Rajasthan was a surplus state in terms of electricity. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now However, as soon as the heat began to rise, power cuts started occurring everywhere, in both villages and cities." "Power cuts in a surplus state directly indicate govt mismanagement. The electricity distribution infrastructure in Rajasthan collapsed, causing distress to the common people," he added. Energy minister Heeralal Nagar dismissed Gehlot's claims as "misleading". Nagar stated that there was no load shedding across the state during this year's summer and power supply was only interrupted in a few areas for maintenance, and that too with prior notice. He credited the absence of power cuts to improved management and infrastructure upgrade carried out by the BJP govt. Highlighting achievements, Nagar said over 1,000 MW of solar power had been integrated into the state grid in the past 18 months, and projects worth more than 10,000 MW were in the pipeline. Rajasthan was set to receive 4,000 MW of battery storage support from the Union government, he said, adding that BJP govt completed 80 GSS projects.
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Tamil Nadu sees Blue Economy as a powerful tool to bring sustainable prosperity to coastal districts
Of late, there has been a growing buzz around the blue economy in Tamil Nadu power corridors. The phrase implies economic activities associated with the ocean, seas and coastal regions, which includes shipbuilding, processing and exporting of seafood, and coastal tourism. Tamil Nadu boasts of having the second longest coastline in India (after Gujarat). But the resource hasn't been tapped to a satisfactory extent. And that is something the TN govt is out to fix. "As TN charts its course towards our CM's (M K Stalin) ambition of a $1 trillion economy, the Blue Economy presents some of the most exciting opportunities. Despite having the second longest coastline in India, we believe our coast is still underutilized from an economic standpoint. This is something we are now addressing with urgency through a vision laid out by our CM," said T R B Rajaa, TN Minister for Industries. "We see the Blue Economy as a powerful tool to bring sustainable prosperity to our coastal districts, through investments that create large job opportunities for both skilled and semi-skilled talents," he added. The state's approach is strategic and focused on three key areas – shipbuilding, seafood processing and coastal tourism. Each of these has the potential to dramatically transform livelihoods and local economies. "The key strategy is maximizing the potential of TN's long coastline. Besides the focus areas, we could tap the state's port facilities spread across its coast. Shipbuilding is an area that has drawn the attention of the Centre as well. The Centre has ambitious plans to be part of the top five shipbuilding nations by 2047. In February, during the Union Budget 2025, a key maritime sector announcement was regarding the establishment of the ₹25,000 crore Maritime Development Fund (MDF) to support long-term investments in the sector. The other big ticket takeaway was the introduction of the revamped Shipbuilding Financial Assistance Policy (SBFAP 2.0) to encourage more participation in shipbuilding activities. With an improved outlay of ₹18,090 crore, this policy is aimed at strengthening domestic shipyards and enhancing their global competitiveness. Tamil Nadu is also working on a Marine Transport policy which could be out in a month, and this could generate a lot of economic opportunities," said Darez Ahamed, MD & CEO, Guidance Tamil Nadu. To understand the potential offered by shipbuilding - consider that just one anchor investor can unlock an entire value chain of MSMEs in welding, precision engineering, logistics and marine services. The state has already initiated talks with global players to set up shipbuilding facilities in TN. As per sources, the order books of these international operators are packed till 2032. On its part, the state must provide the infrastructure needed to help them to establish their units here. For every job created inside the shopfloor of a shipbuilding company, seven jobs will be created outside. That's the potential it offers, say stakeholders. In the seafood sector, TN is no longer content with being just a supplier of raw catch. The game plan now is to build end-to-end infrastructure for seafood processing, cold chains and export-quality packaging, ensuring that value addition happens right here in the state's fishing hamlets, creating better incomes and sustainable livelihoods for the coastal communities. Infrastructure, especially roads connecting the coastal belt, cold chains along the TN coast, availability of power for these cold chains, mapping the wasteland on the coast, utilizing it adequately for growth of marine food and processing industries, are some of the key areas TN should focus on, said a leading consultant for the marine food industry, on condition of anonymity. "We will be addressing all the issues that have been holding back the growth of the seafood industry in Tamil Nadu, vis-a-vis neighbouring states including Andhra Pradesh, which accounts for Rs 26,000 crore worth seafood exports as against TN's Rs 8,000 crore. We would soon match the best performing states in this sector," a TN govt official said. Coastal tourism is a major plus point. Tamil Nadu's coast is beautiful, diverse and rich in culture, but it remains largely unexplored. The state is developing a blueprint to unlock this through sustainable, community-led tourism, which will entail eco-friendly resorts, avenues for water-based recreational activities and support for local entrepreneurship. The aim is to make the coast a world-class destination; while keeping it rooted in tradition. "To ensure this transformation is inclusive, we plan to skill the youth in coastal regions through initiatives under the Naan Mudhalvan programme. We want our coastal communities to be more than beneficiaries. They must be the driving force behind this change. Tamil Nadu's Blue Economy strategy is also about building a just, green and resilient future for our coastal communities, and we are committed to making it a reality," Rajaa said. So, of the three segments that have got the special focus under the Blue Economy strategy, which one might get a head start? "We would like all three to take off big-time, since the opportunities are significant. But realistically, the first shipbuilding could take off in just about a year from now," says Guidance Tamil Nadu's Ahamed. That's just on the horizon.
The Hindu
an hour ago
- The Hindu
Revanth Reddy releases Bandaru Dattatreya's autobiography, calls him ‘Ajata Shatruvu'
Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy on Saturday released the autobiography of Haryana Governor Bandaru Dattatreya, titled 'Prajala Kathe-Naa Atma Katha', at Shilpakala Vedika in Hyderabad. The event witnessed the participation of several prominent leaders, including Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Naidu, former President Ramnath Kovind and former Vice-President M. Venkaiah Naidu who heaped praise on Dattatreya's public life and legacy. Speaking at the book launch, the Chief Minister described Dattatreya as an 'Ajata Shatruvu', one who has no enemies, and likened him to former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee. He said that the Haryana Governor stands as a role model for budding leaders, having risen from humble beginnings in Gowliguda, a small locality in Hyderabad, to occupy high constitutional office while maintaining close ties with the people. The Chief Minister made interesting comments on his political journey, describing it as 'Schooling in the BJP, college in the TDP, and now working with Rahul Gandhi'. 'I never hide my relationships,' Mr. Revanth Reddy said, adding that he had close ties with the families of both Mr. Dattatreya and Union Minister G. Kishan Reddy.. He said, 'Leaders cutting across the political lines admire whether or not he holds power,' citing the annual 'Alai Balai' event hosted by Dattatreya. The Chief Minister also said that his government draws inspiration from leaders like P. Janardhan Reddy (PJR) and Dattatreya in making people-centric decisions. Naidu described Dattatreya as the embodiment of a true gentleman and lauded his commitment to secularism and public welfare despite working as Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh pracharak, stating that his 'letters to the Chief Minister' reflect both purpose and principle. 'Dattatreya is fondly called as simply Dattanna. He is an Ajata Shatruvu,' Naidu added. Naidu also showered praises on Dattatreya. He said such leaders exemplify value-based public service. 'Those who violate democratic norms must be rejected through democratic means,' he said. Reddy, Telangana Minister Komatireddy Venkata Reddy, Duddilla Sridhar Babu, former Chief Justice of India N.V. Ramana, and Governors Jishnu Dev Varma (Telangana), S. Abdul Nazeer (Andhra Pradesh), Kambhampati Haribabu (Odisha) and N. Indrasena Reddy (Tripura) were among the dignitaries present. This autobiography chronicles Dattatreya's seven-decade journey, from helping his mother sell onions in Gowliguda to becoming an RSS pracharak, his involvement in relief work during the 1977 Diviseema cyclone, his arrest during the Emergency, and his tenure as a Union Minister and now as Governor.
