The Government of Gujarat submitted its response on the actions taken to prevent lion deaths in Gir forest to the court following a report by amicus curiae Hemang Shah raising nine core issues affecting the Asiatic Lions of Gir.
India’s Endangered had reported in detail the 9 core issues affecting the safety of Asiatic Lions in India, as brought into the fore by Hemang Shah. The Government in reply, informed the court that adequate measures had been taken to resolve these nine issues. The Gujarat High court had initiated a suo moto petition after many lion deaths were reported last year in the state.
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The following are the actions taken,
Open Wells
To solve the problem of open wells the government has provided financial subsidy of up to Rs. 16,000 for construction of parapet wall around the wells and so far 37,201 open wells have been covered.
Railway Tracks
Chain-link fencing has been erected along 81.06 km of the railway track at a cost of Rs 11.84 crore. A total of 260.7 km long railway track from Pipavav port to Surendranagar passes through the lion habitat in Amreli district. The speed limit of trains passing through the area has been limited to 45 km per hour.
Radio Collars
Use of technology to keep track of lion movement across the tracks by using radio collars. About 75 lions have been radio-collared.
Patrolling
Regular patrolling by the power discoms along with forest and police department officials in the areas where illegal electric fencing has been done.
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Traffic Restrictions
Traffic restriction from sunset to sunrise on four of the six highways that pass through Gir protected area. Adequate lighting along roads in the areas frequented by lions in order to deter their movement on to roads at night and thereby prevent toad accident deaths of lions in Gir. In the last two years, only one lion has died in a road accident.
Mining Activities
Regarding illegal mining activities the report by Hemang Shah had noted – “It is quite surprising as to how these entities have ‘managed’ to secure permissions and approvals. All such stone quarry sites should be closed down with immediate effect irrespective of their permissions and approvals. All such approvals should be cancelled.”
The Gujarat government in its reply said to the court – There are nine stone quarrying sites near Thordi village, near Mitiyala Wildlife Sanctuary. Four mining lease holders of those have been stopped from mining due to lack of environmental clearance certificate. For three others which were granted clearance in March 2015, the collector of Amreli has sought to revoke the lease and environmental clearance in January 2019 for violating norms. All mining quarries in Thordi have been directed in July 2019 to construct 6-feet fencing around the quarry to prevent entry of lions.
Illegal Lion shows
As a measure to stop illegal lion shows, 40 offences were registered since 2016-17 to July 31, 2019 against 134 offenders and a sum of Rs 6.03 lakh collected as fine. Awareness has been created in hoteliers, farmhouse owners and local residents about illegal lion shows.
Ecosystem balance
To maintain the food chain and water in the Gir region, the government has said that adequate preys are available in and around the forest area for the lions. According to the affidavit filed by the government about 1.51 lakh herbivore animals are there in the Gir protected area. To prevent risk of disease transmission, steps are being taken to prevent infusion of old cows and bullocks in the forest. Nine rescue centres in Gir forest area provide the required treatment of lions.
In addition to these steps, 33 rapid response teams and 10 rescue teams have been formed by the forest department to avoid man-animal conflict.
It is hoped that the lion numbers would not decline further and improve progressively as a result of these measures.
