KARIMNAGAR: The state government has launched a survey through e-panchayats to assess the monkey menace in villages and identify steps to address the problem.
Panchayat officials are collecting details about monkey populations and their impact on residents and crops by consulting villagers.
The survey includes questions on the presence of monkeys in villages, crop damage and the fear and inconvenience caused to people.
Based on the findings, the government would consider measures to address the problem.
District panchayat officer of Peddapalli, Sreemala, told Deccan Chronicle that officials were recording details of the monkey menace through e-panchayat. A report would be submitted to higher officials after the survey, and steps would be initiated based on its findings, she said.
The problem has seriously affected residents, who adopted various measures to keep monkeys away. But, the monkeys continued to be on the prowl. Some residents have put up langur photographs in front of their houses, while wealthier families have installed solar fencing around their urban properties.
Monkeys have damaged agricultural crops, including vegetables, maize, pulses and paddy. The menace has been raised as a major issue during the gram panchayat and municipal elections, with candidates promising a permanent solution, if elected. Some candidates even engaged monkey catchers to impress the electorate.
Despite some efforts by elected representatives to fulfil their poll promises, the monkey population has only increased.
This menace has repeatedly caused injuries and deaths. On December 31, Kesireddy Vimala, 50, of Lingapur village in Shankarapatnam mandal, died after falling down a few steps while trying to drive away a group of monkeys.
Vimala was working in front of her house when the monkeys arrived. As she tried to scare them away, she fell down and was injured in her head. She died while undergoing treatment at the government area hospital in Huzurabad.
Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: deccanchronicle.com
