Monkeys declared vermin in 11 districts

Tribune News Service

Shimla, February 23

Monkeys have been declared vermin for one year in 11 districts, 91 tehsils and sub-tehsils. This was stated by Forest Minister Govind Singh Thakur here today.

He said Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur had raised the matter time and again with the Centre, saying due to monkeys, farmers were facing huge losses.

The Centre had then issued a notification on February 14, 2019, declaring monkeys vermin.

On April 24, 2016, monkeys were declared as vermin in 38 tehsils and sub-tehsils of 10 districts in Himachal, whose period was extended for a year on December 20, 2017.

Thakur said the state had reported damage to life and property, including large-scale destruction of agriculture by monkeys. Responding to the plight of locals and farmers, the ministry had declared them vermin.

He said the decision was going to benefit farmers and horticulturists.