HimVani

Shimla: The Himachal Pradesh Forest Department is working out a multi-pronged strategy to control monkey population in the state. Overruling protest expressed by some Hindu hardliner organisations, the department will go ahead with sterilization and scientific culling of monkeys. On the other hand, the department has also prepared an ambitious project to plant at least five lakh fruit-bearing trees in the state.
A special committee will be formed to allow scientific culling of monkeys in endemic areas. Under this plan, the department will fix the date and timing for culling to avoid any mishap. Farmers in certain areas have already been issued gun licenses to carry out culling.
It may be mentioned that the Kheti Bacho Sangarsh Samiti has been carrying out a widespread campaign to demand culling of monkeys so that crops could be saved from destruction.