Telangana government has, on Tuesday, paved way for widespread culling of wild boar by designating village sarpanches as honorary wildlife wardens for the purpose of issuing permissions.
Citing a proposal by the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, the government has also authorised the Chief Wildlife Warden to delegate his/her powers to them, for the purpose of issuing permission for culling of wild pigs damaging agriculture/horticulture crops outside the protected areas and reserve forests.
The orders have been issued under the Section 11(b) and Section 4(3) of the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972, in response to widespread disgruntlement among farmers about marauding wild boars.
Wire snares deployed by farmers to trap the boars, frequently end up killing tigers and other wild animals.
Though there is an approved panel of shooters for the wild boar culling, permission hitherto had to be obtained from the District Forest Officer.
The powers delegated to the village sarpanches…