Dehradun: As incidents of human-wildlife conflict in Uttarakhand escalate into a serious situation, the Forest Department has been forced to increase its vigilance. For the first time, headquarters officers are being specifically assigned to districts to address such situations. The department has designated officers in four Garhwal districts.
The intrusion of leopards into residential areas in the hilly districts of the state has been a cause of panic. Leopards are entering courtyards not only at night but also in broad daylight. This situation has not only caused panic among villagers but has also posed significant challenges for the Forest Department. People already troubled by leopard attacks have now faced a new threat in the form of bears. This has led to an increase in human-wildlife conflict cases, which has now become a major headache for the department.
Significantly, amid continued reports of attacks by predatory wildlife in the mountainous region, the Forest Department has decided to send officers stationed at the headquarters to the mountains. Four senior officers at the Forest Headquarters have been designated as nodal officers.
These officers have been designated in these districts: The Forest Department has selected four officers for this purpose, assigning them responsibility for different districts. Additional Chief Conservator of Forests Naresh Kumar for Pauri district, Chief Conservator of Forests Rahul for Rudraprayag, Chief Conservator of Forests PK Patro for Chamoli district, and Sushant Kumar Patnaik for Uttarkashi.
Nodal Officer’s Responsibility: These officers have been tasked with maintaining better coordination regarding human-wildlife conflict and providing timely relief, prompt departmental action, and monitoring directives issued from higher levels. Furthermore, the order directs the nodal officers to take action on seven points.
This nodal officer will guide the DFO on strategies and SOPs related to human-wildlife conflict, as well as technical procedures and priorities. They will also oversee departmental action in highly affected areas. Analyzing incidents of human-wildlife conflict, they will conduct risk mapping, identify hotspots, and provide corrective suggestions.
They will also oversee tasks such as providing immediate compensation to affected families, reviewing the status of equipment needed for conflict prevention, and monitoring budget availability. They will also ensure the DFO’s presence on public hearings. Furthermore, the nodal officer will send a weekly report on human-wildlife conflict to the Forest Headquarters.
Chief Conservator of Forests (HQ) Ranjan Kumar Mishra explained that due to the increasing number of conflict cases, the decision was made to appoint nodal officers who will monitor all incidents and situations.
