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New Delhi/Prayagraj, November 3 (IANS) The Allahabad High Court has directed the Uttar Pradesh government to give priority to dealing with the growing problem of monkeys across the state and prepare an action plan within four weeks.
A division bench of Chief Justice Arun Bhansali and Justice Kshitij Shailendra passed the order while hearing a public interest litigation (PIL) that highlighted the increasing incidents of man-monkey conflict, starvation and habitat loss by monkeys across Uttar Pradesh.
The bench led by CJ Bhansali, in its order, said that a counter affidavit has been filed on behalf of the Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI) and directed that it be taken on record.
The state government informed the Allahabad HC that a preliminary meeting was held with officials of the Department of Forest, Environment and Climate Change, and two months’ time was sought as a policy decision involving multiple departments was required.
Dismissing the plea seeking more time, the bench led by CJ Bhansali said, “Though a period of two months has been sought, it appears to be quite a long period. The respondents are required to give some priority to the issue in question and, therefore, they are granted four weeks’ time to do the needful.”
Advocates Akash Vashishtha and Pawan Kumar Tiwari, representing the petitioners, submitted a provisional action plan to the Allahabad High Court, which directed the state government to consider it while formulating its roadmap.
It further directed that the state government should “consult the Animal Welfare Board of India and the Uttar Pradesh State Animal Welfare Board while taking decisions in this regard.”
The petitioners have sought to deal with the increasing population of monkeys, their relocation to forest areas, provision of food and a 24×7 complaint helpline.
Earlier, the Allahabad High Court had expressed concern over the “devastation being caused by monkey menace” and “inaction of departments to shift responsibility from one to another”. The next hearing of the case will be on December 3.
–IANS
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