Pulwama,Aug 26 (KINS): Amid rising incidents of human-wildlife conflict, the Wildlife Department is taking steps to stop garbage dumping near forests and wildlife areas, which can attract wild animals towards human settlements.
Sohail Ahmad Wagay, Wildlife Warden Shopian-Pulwama, said illegal garbage dumping is one of the major reasons behind the increasing human-wildlife conflict.
Speaking at an awareness programme held in Satoora, Tral, Wagay said committees have already been formed at the district and sub-divisional levels to address the issue.
He said the department will soon hold a meeting with the concerned authorities to close garbage dumping sites located in eco-sensitive areas and near forests and wildlife habitats.
“We will close all the segregation sheds and dumping sites and take the garbage away from those areas so that the animals will not be attracted by the smell of the garbage,” Wagay said.
He added that removing garbage from such areas would help reduce the chances of wild animals entering human settlements and prevent future incidents of human-wildlife conflict.(KINS)

