BANDIPORA: Deputy Commissioner (DC) Bandipora, Indu Kanwal Chib, on Friday chaired a meeting with officers of the Wildlife and Forest departments, along with representatives of local communities, to address the growing monkey menace that has been causing widespread damage to crops, vegetables, and orchards in several villages.
During the interaction, villagers informed the DC that the problem peaks during the harvesting season, adding that monkeys often intrude into houses, damage property, and disturb peace in the villages.
Wildlife officials apprised the meeting that measures such as sound crackers and sound guns had already been attempted but yielded little success. They noted that monkeys, known for their adaptability, have become accustomed to human presence and coexistence. Officials further advised villagers to adopt safe waste management practices, including the use of locked dustbins, to reduce attractants.
DC stressed that the issue is a form of man–animal conflict and requires coordinated efforts, pointing out that wildlife officials alone cannot mitigate the menace in isolation. She directed the concerned departments to frame both short-term and long-term strategies, while also seeking immediate relief measures for affected residents.
Indu urged villagers to dispose-off garbage responsibly, practice waste segregation, and assured them that door-to-door waste collection and the establishment of segregation sheds would be facilitated through the Rural Development department (RDD). She further directed that a dedicated task force be constituted, comprising officials from the Wildlife and Forest Departments along with local volunteers, to jointly manage the issue.
DC assured residents that the district administration will develop a three pronged strategy with emergent solutions, 3 month consistent monitoring with additional deployment and a long term policy of growing fruits trees on higher hilly areas with anti monkey plantations near the villages to change the habit of these animals.