Raipur (thestates.news) | The 16th meeting of the Chhattisgarh State Wildlife Board on Friday cleared key proposals and decided to forward them to the National Wildlife Board for final approval.
The decision was taken at a meeting held at the Chief Minister’s residence office under the chairmanship of Shri Vishnu Deo Sai. Members reviewed the action taken report of the previous meeting and deliberated on new agenda items before arriving at the decision.
Stressing the need to safeguard flora and fauna Shri Sai said, “Wildlife is an invaluable heritage of nature and collective efforts are essential for its conservation and promotion. Proactive measures including continuous monitoring for wildlife protection, curbing illegal activities, and encouraging public participation in safeguarding wildlife should be ensured.” He also underlined the need to raise awareness among villagers living near forests and ensure the active involvement of youth. Emphasising the principle of minimum interference, he said only essential works should be carried out in natural wildlife habitats without any disturbance. He called for all activities to be conducted in accordance with the principles of coexistence.
The meeting approved the formation of the Standing Committee of the Chhattisgarh State Wildlife Board. The committee will be constituted under the chairmanship of the Forest and Climate Change Minister and will include 11 other members. Notably, the opinion of the State Wildlife Board is mandatory for proposals related to works in ecologically significant wildlife areas. Due to long gaps between board meetings, delays often occur in approvals. The formation of the standing committee will help ensure quicker statutory clearances and faster resolution of wildlife management issues
