Ganderbal, August 28: BJP State Executive Member J&K UT and District Incharge Panchayat Raj Election Ganderbal Mohammad Amin Shah expressed serious concern over the alarming rise in bear attack incidents in Ganderbal, with over a dozen people reportedly injured in bear attacks over the past six days. Shah said that the response of the Wildlife Department has been next to none, primarily due to an acute shortage of essential rescue infrastructure and equipment. He said the department is facing a severe shortage of rescue cages, equipment and vehicles, with only one rescue van available in Ganderbal to deal with increasing wildlife emergencies.
He said that Ganderbal currently has only six operational bear cages and nine leopard cages, which is grossly inadequate considering the increasing incidents of human-wildlife conflict in the district. Shah urged the Wildlife Department and district administration to immediately strengthen the rescue mechanism, provide additional rescue vehicles and equipment, repair non-functional cages on priority, and establish an effective rapid-response system. He urged the administration to explain why essential rescue infrastructure has not been strengthened despite repeated incidents and concerns raised by residents.
“People should not be forced to live in fear while the concerned machinery remains inadequately equipped. The government has a responsibility to protect every citizen, and the safety of residents cannot be compromised due to administrative neglect or lack of resources,The authorities must act immediately and ensure that the Wildlife Department is adequately equipped to respond to wildlife emergencies,” Shah said. BJP leader stated that the government must move beyond routine statements and reactive measures and adopt a comprehensive strategy to tackle the growing human-wildlife conflict. He demanded immediate deployment of additional rescue vehicles, adequate cages and trained manpower, besides repairing all non-functional equipment on a war footing.
He further called for greater coordination between the Wildlife Department, district administration and local communities to prevent further attacks and ensure the safety of residents across Ganderbal.
