Tamil Nadu Govt Tells Madras High Court That It Has Permitted Forest Department to Shoot and Kill Wild Boars
In March 2016, the court recorded the recommendation made by the principal chief conservator to the Home Secretary on measures to be taken and directed the state to implement them. But, the Home Secretary has not passed any order based on the recommendation," the petitioner said.
Chennai, July 25: The Madras High Court has been informed by the Tamil Nadu government that it has permitted the state forest department to shoot and kill wild boars that damage agricultural produce in nine districts of the state.
The government made the submission on a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by A R Gokulakrishnan from Dindigul seeking a direction to the state to immediately take steps to control the wild boar menace as its population had increased manifold in the hilly terrains. Also Read | Punjab Reports 468 New COVID-19 Cases Today, State Tally Rises to 12,684: Live News Breaking And Coronavirus Updates on July 25, 2020.
Recording the submission, the First Bench of Chief Justice AP Sahi and Justice Senthilkumar Ramamoorthy disposed of the plea. According to a report from the government, the order to kill the boars was first issued on July 22, 2017 considering the issue for 12 months. Also Read | 'Raj Bhavan Gherao' Row: Rajasthan BJP Wants Ashok Gehlot to be Booked Under 'IPC Section 124', Submits Memorandum to Governor.
Later, the order was extended on January 25, 2019 to another 12 months based on the recommendation of the forest department. Subsequently, on May 6, the department again suggested extension of the order for a further 12 months. Therefore, the present order has been issued, the report said.
According to the petitioner, there were around 10 million boars breeding in the hilly areas. The average life-span of the boars was 8-10 years. One could see them roaming about with piglets destroying cash crops and plantations causing irreparable loss to the already suffering peasant community in almost all the 12,527 panchayats covering all the districts of Tamil Nadu, he said.
Since the authorities failed to make any step to check the menace despite his representation, the petitioner moved the High Court. In March 2016, the court recorded the recommendation made by the principal chief conservator to the Home Secretary on measures to be taken and directed the state to implement them. But, the Home Secretary has not passed any order based on the recommendation," the petitioner said.
(The above story is verified and authored by Press Trust of India (PTI) staff. PTI, India’s premier news agency, employs more than 400 journalists and 500 stringers to cover almost every district and small town in India.. The views appearing in the above post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY)