Amravati: Maharashtra will set up a state-of-the-art Regional Wildlife Rescue, Treatment and Rehabilitation Centre at Bamboo Garden in Amravati, forest minister Ganesh Naik announced in the Legislative Council on Tuesday.The announcement came after MLC Sanjay Khodke raised a Calling Attention Notice on rising wildlife accidents and smuggling threats across Amravati division’s five districts. Khodke said the region lacks any modern facility to treat animals injured in road/rail accidents, electrocution, well falls or human-wildlife conflict. Currently, injured wildlife must be sent to Nagpur.Khodke noted Amravati’s road connectivity to Akola, Washim, Buldhana, Yavatmal, and Wardha makes it ideal for a divisional centre. He cited increasing rescue cases from Melghat Tiger Reserve, Katepurna, Karanja-Sohol, Dnyanganga, Painganga, Lonar, Isapur and Tipeshwar sanctuaries, and Pohra-Malkhed forest area.Replying to the notice, Naik confirmed the govt has received a proposal from Amravati MLA Sulbha Khodke for the centre at Bamboo Garden. “The govt is positive and will soon approve the project and allocate funds,” he said.The facility will serve all 5 districts of Amravati division for treatment and rehabilitation of injured, orphaned and confiscated wildlife.
