Forest Minister A.K. Saseendran has said that the Forest department, with financial support from the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD), is gearing up to launch a project to conserve ‘Vayals’ (marshy areas) inside the forest in Wayanad.
Addressing a district-level review meeting on human-wildlife conflict, Mr. Saseendran said that since Vayals played a crucial role in providing fodder for wildlife, especially during summer, the department was planning to launch a project worth ₹27 crore.
The Minister said the functioning of Jagratha Smithis at the civic body level would be intensified to mitigate human-wildlife conflict. Steps would be adopted for the reopening of eco-tourism centres in the district. Forest officials would be provided with pump action guns and drone cameras by the end of the month.
