Mumbai: Forest Minister Ganesh Naik has directed the Ratnagiri district administration to reinstate the provision of firearm licenses for farmers to protect their crops from wild boars. The directive was issued during a high-level meeting held to address growing concerns of wildlife-related crop destruction in Dapoli taluka of Ratnagiri district.
The meeting, chaired by Minister Naik, was attended by key officials including Additional Chief Secretary of the Forest Department Milind Mhaiskar, Deputy Secretary Vivek Hosing, Regional Chief Conservator of Forests (Kolhapur), and wildlife researcher Santosh Mahajan. Senior forest officials also participated via video conferencing and others.
Farmers in the Konkan region, particularly in Dapoli, have reported extensive crop damage caused by wild boars, monkeys, and langurs. The animals are not only ravaging fruit orchards and paddy fields but have also begun entering residential areas, causing destruction inside homes.
Addressing these issues, Minister Naik emphasized the need for long-term and proactive solutions. He pointed out that while compensation for crop damage is currently offered, it is not a sustainable fix.
“We must take preventive steps within legal frameworks,” he said, urging authorities to reintroduce firearm licenses for crop protection—a practice that was previously allowed but later suspended.
In a significant development, the Maharashtra Government is also considering the establishment of sterilization centers for monkeys and langurs in the Konkan region, particularly in the Ratnagiri and Sindhudurg districts. The move is aimed at curbing the rapidly increasing population of these animals, which are contributing heavily to crop destruction.
Wildlife researcher Santosh Mahajan supported the move and additionally called for faster compensation disbursements and the inclusion of sambar deer-related damages in the compensation scheme. Minister Naik assured that adequate funding would be provided for implementing these long-term measures to safeguard farmers' livelihoods.
