The state wildlife board standing committee of Maharashtra approved a Rs 260 crore action plan on Tuesday aimed at preventing human-wildlife conflict. The comprehensive plan includes the establishment of control rooms at ten locations across the state in the first phase, deployment of artificial intelligence, a mobile phone-based alert system, two rescue centres, and ten treatment centres.
Control Rooms and Technology Integration
The control rooms will be modeled after police control rooms and equipped with state-of-the-art digital systems. Resources, vehicles, and patrol teams of the forest department will be tracked through these control rooms. In the event of a human-wildlife conflict situation, the control room will immediately notify concerned authorities, ensuring prompt action, as stated by State Forest Minister Ganesh Naik.
Rapid Response Teams
Rapid Rescue Teams will be formed at 20 locations to rescue wild animals. Additionally, 2,000 Primary Response Teams will be established to assist the Forest Department in protecting villages located in forest areas from wild animals, Minister Naik added.
The action plan underscores the state's commitment to leveraging technology and coordinated efforts to mitigate conflicts between humans and wildlife, ensuring safety for both.
