Reptile park at Marchula to be ready by Nov: CM

Tribune News Service

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Dehradun, August 6

A reptile park at Marchula in Nainital district will become functional by November. Chief Minister Harish Rawat stated this while presiding over a meeting of the Uttarakhand Forest Department here yesterday. He said the park that would be developed on the lines of the Jim Corbett Park would conserve local species of reptiles, besides others.

The Chief Minister said butterfly parks were being set up at Lachhiwala in Dehradun and in Nainital. He gave orders for the promotion of bird festivals in the state and called for exploring new areas of attraction and avenues linked to birdwatching so that local youths could get employment opportunities. He was informed that a bird festival will be held in Munsiyari.

The Chief Minister directed Forest Department officials to find out the possibility of developing a leopard safari and a tiger safari in the state. He told them to search for sites having tourism potential. He called for developing four Buransh parks and setting up an eco-tourism corporation to promote the activity in the state.

Rawat expressed concerns over increasing incidents of man-animal conflict across the state and called for effectively controlling entry of wild animal into human habitats while simultaneously linking livelihood of people with forest conservation and development.

The Chief Minister directed the officials to open three sterilisation centres each in Garhwal and Kumaun to curb growing monkey menace. He approved Rs 2 crore for monkey trapping and Rs 1.5 crore for vasectomy of simians. He called for setting up sterilisation centres for street dogs in Dehradun and Ranikhet.

Rawat directed the officials to promote plantation of local wild fruits such as ghingaru, amala, maalu, wild berries, mandua, jhangora and bamboo in forest regions. Plantation of small mango variety should be scattered in forest areas so that wild animals could get their food in forests. Ensure large scale plantation of curry leaves, bamboos and promote beekeeping in areas where elephants invade.

On the issue of water paucity in forest regions, the Chief Minister directed for setting up a target to develop at least 10,000 water bodies and trenches across the state so that water paucity in forests could be curbed. He also gave orders for identification of sites for the construction of protection walls against invasion by wild boars to be completed in next five years.