Gandhinagar, Aug 18 (IANS) The Gujarat Forest Department will deploy drones, tracking teams, and new watch towers at Palitana’s Shatrunjaya Hill to monitor Asiatic lion movement and improve pilgrim safety, Forest and Environment Minister Arjun Modhwadia said on Tuesday.
The measures were discussed at a meeting chaired by Modhwadia in Gandhinagar with Jain leaders from Shri Anandji Kalyanji Pedhi, following repeated lion presence at the prominent Jain pilgrimage site in Bhavnagar district. Minister of State, Pravin Mali, was also present.
Modhwadia said arrangements would be made for round-the-clock surveillance using drones, four prefabricated watch towers and four prefabricated centre-cum-cabins.
Continuous tracking and scanning of lion movement would also be undertaken to help safeguard the thousands of pilgrims who travel to the hill on foot.
“The Forest Department has closely observed and analysed the movement of lions in the area over the past year,” Modhwadia said.
He said lions generally did not attack humans unless provoked, but could do so if disturbed or harassed. Given the presence of wildlife, he advised pilgrims to begin their ascent after sunrise and complete their pilgrimage before sunset.
The minister also said the government would consider declaring the area a ‘Silent Zone’.
“Local youth would be temporarily engaged for lion tracking and pilgrim safety, while the pilgrimage route would be repaired to make the climb more convenient, taking environmental concerns into account,” he said.
He directed Forest Department officials to put the proposed arrangements and facilities in place in the coming period.
The meeting also discussed public awareness and coordination, forest and wildlife conservation, infrastructure and habitat management, lion tracking and scanning, prefabricated watch towers and centre-cum-cabins with stairs, human resources and capacity building, drone technology, project management consultancy, the possibility of a Silent Zone and special activities such as the ‘6 Gau Yatra’.
The Forest Department presented the proposed safety measures. Officials said the department has closely monitored lion presence and movement around Shatrunjaya Hill over the past year.
The move follows increasing attention to lion sightings around the pilgrimage route. Asiatic lions have been documented in and around Shatrunjaya Hill in recent months, including a sighting on the hill in June.
Modhwadia also referred to the Forest Department’s arrangements during the last Fagan Feri at Shatrunjaya Hill, which he said members of the Jain community appreciated.
Representatives of Shri Anandji Kalyanji Pedhi said they had consistently had a positive experience working with the Forest Department on environmental and wildlife conservation.
They said the organisation had regularly appealed to pilgrims to undertake their pilgrimage in a disciplined and peaceful manner and avoid distracting wildlife.
“Forest Department officers and personnel had always been available to assist when required,” they said.
–IANS
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