Maneka asks Yogi to tackle man-tiger conflicts in UP

Union minister Maneka Gandhi has requested Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath to bring in measures to address the man-tiger conflict in Pilibhit that claimed 22 lives last year.

Gandhi on Friday asked the CM for a crackdown on the increasing incidents of human killings by tigers.

"There have been a large number of incidents of man-animal conflict in Pilibhit and 22 persons have been killed by tigers. The entire Tiger Project Area, spanning over 165 kilometers, needs to be fenced in order to combat conflict with tigers," officials at WCD ministry said, adding that the cost of fencing will be approximately Rs 7.5 crore.

"Fencing of the tiger project area will be a big relief for people in Pilibhit as well as the animals in the forest. Once it is fenced, the project area can also be developed as a tourist destination," Gandhi suggested to Adityanath.

The union minister also highlighted the plight of sugarcane farmers in Uttar Pradesh's Pilibhit to Adityanath and requested that the government reopen the long-shut sugar mill in Majhola.

In her recent meeting with Adityanath, Gandhi said that the sugar mill has been lying closed since a long time due to which sugarcane farmers in Gandhi's constituency have been suffering.

"Sugarcane farmers in Pilibhit district have been suffering as the nearest sugar mill is quite far. Efforts were made to revive this sugar mill. In the past, sugar mills have been revived, attracting more and more private investors. A decision on the revival of Majhola mill needs to be taken so that the work can start quickly," the minister told UP CM.

"Farmers are the most discontented because of stagnant farmer income. In order to address this problem, first of all the sugar mills need to be immediately upgraded so that the sugar mill farmers have a place to sell their output. The income of hard-working farmers of Pilibhit needs to be supplemented so we need to promote organic farming significantly," the minister said.

Ministry officials confirmed that demands were made to Adityanath last week and he has agreed to all them. Among several other issues raised by Gandhi, the issue of dwindling infrastructure, including completion of national highway connecting Bareilly to Sitarganj from Pilibhit, was also brought up.