Solar fencing on National Park buffer zone to avoid crop loss from wild animals

Bhopal: Farmer Welfare an Agriculture Development Minister Gaurishankar Bisen said that solar fencing would be done on the National Park Bandhavgarh buffer zone to protect farmers’ crops in adjacent villages from wild animals. For this the Farmer Welfare Department has made a budget provision of Rs 20 crores. Bisen was reviewing development works and status of Kharif crop at a meeting with officials in Umaria on Wednesday.

Minister Bisen took information about the distribution of soil health cards and preparations of Kisan Sammelan to be held in the district. He said that Rs 78 lakh 40 thousand has been allotted in the first phase of solar fencing. Fencing work will be done along 40 kms on the borders of Lakhnouti, Naugavan, Devri, Sehra, Kathar, Bagaho and Urdan village of the district. Bisen issued instructions to the officials to ensure that quality should be maintained in the fencing work so that protection to the crops is ensured for the coming 50 years. He told that the work of fencing to ensure protection of crop loss from animals in villages adjacent to the Bandhavgarh National Park has been taken up for the first time. This will protect both the crops and the wild animals.

It was told at the meeting that owing to less rainfall in the district this year, water is being stored in the reservoirs. About 2834 farmers have been insured under Prime Minister’s Crop Insurance Scheme. Besides, in case farmers face loss to crops, non-insurance holder farmers will be provided assistance under Rule 6-4.-WTN