Punjab farmers demand change in hunting rules for animals destroying crops

Patiala, January 21

Advertisement

Claiming that they are not professional hunters, farmers want the state Wildlife Department to make amends to the recently framed hunting rules at the earliest and save farmers from losses caused by the wild beasts. Following backlash from the farmer unions and marginal farmers, the Punjab Wildlife Department has proposed some changes in the recently announced new rules, which are under consideration of the state government.

Farmers rue that the revised procedure for issuing permits to hunt wild boar and nilgai that damage crops, is cumbersome and not many farmers can follow these rules. “These animals destroy more than they can consume. If stopped, they aggressively charge at us. Guarding crops from them in winter become next to impossible,” said Hardeep Singh from Anandpur Sahib.

Punjab Chief Wildlife Warden Dharminder Sharma said that following some feedback from farmer unions, they have proposed some changes in the recent rules.