Thiruvananthapuram, Jun 16 (PTI) The Kerala Forest Department has launched intensive activities across several forest divisions as part of its 100-day action plan to reduce human-wildlife conflict and improve the safety of people living near forest areas.
According to an official statement, work has started on building 100 km of new solar fencing to prevent wild animals from entering human settlements.
In Palakkad’s Nemmara Forest Division, a 4-km stretch of fencing along the forest boundary in Alathur taluk is expected to be completed this week.
The department also said repair work has begun on nearly 2,000 km of existing fences.
In the Mangalam Dam Forest Station limits under the Alathur Range, repairs to 17.9 km of solar fencing have already been completed.
To ensure proper upkeep of the barriers, the department has launched a month-long Special Monsoon Drive involving forest staff, watchers, local residents, farmers, youth organisations and NGOs.
New solar fencing work has also started in the Wayanad Forest Division.
The statement said measures have been initiated to speed up the payment of compensation to people affected by wildlife-related incidents.
It also announced the start of a “Vista Clearance” programme under which undergrowth will be cleared along 100 km of forest roads to improve the safety of travellers.
The second phase of the “Sarpa” snake rescue project has also been launched.
The department said the Sarpa mobile app has been upgraded to make it more user-friendly, allowing people to report snake sightings quickly and access updated information on hospitals that should be approached in case of snakebite.
As part of the second-phase drive, forest officials rescued seven pythons, two cobras and three snakes of other species from populated areas near forest boundaries in the Thenmala, Palakkad, Konni, Punalur and Munnar divisions and released them back into the wild, the statement said.
The department further said it is preparing a revised proposal for submission to the Central government seeking legal amendments to tackle the problems caused by wild boars and bonnet macaques. PTI TGB KH
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