Chandrapur: At a time when the state govt is deliberating measures such as sterilisation and capturing leopards for relocation to facilities like Vantara to deal with leopard menace in Junnar and Shirur in western Maharashtra, a long-prepared grassroots solution to human-leopard conflict in eastern Maharashtra continues to remain on paper.In Chandrapur district, where nearly 200 people have reportedly died in wildlife attacks over the past five years, a comprehensive ‘Leopard Problem-Free Village’ scheme, designed to prevent conflict through village-level interventions, has yet to move beyond the planning stage despite multiple official discussions and administrative approvals.With nearly 42% of Chandrapur district under forest cover, settlements bordering forests frequently face wildlife intrusion. Forest officials say tiger attacks largely occur when people venture into forests, while leopards often enter villages in search of stray dogs or livestock, leading to conflict with humans.To address this, authorities had proposed a ‘Leopard Problem-Free Village’ scheme focused on preventive measures.The proposal envisages implementation through the Chandrapur Zilla Parishad, with funds routed via gram panchayats and additional financial support for vulnerable villages from District Planning and Development Council (DPDC) and other sources. The scheme is yet to receive financial allocation.Wildlife activist Bandu Dhotre claimed, while a cost-effective and risk-free solution is available, state on Wednesday decided to amend Wildlife Protection Act, delegating powers related to relocation and sterilisation of leopards to state’s chief wildlife warden at the state-level.
