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Rs 30 million will be spent on the conservation of endangered species

GILGIT: The government has spent Rs 30 million to conserve the endangered species and a project has been launched to protect the wildlife from vanishing, officials said.

“A comprehensive project has been started by the Wildlife Department in order to conserve the precious wild species in Northern Areas and the required funds have been given by the government,” Divisional Wildlife Officer Muhammad Ayub told APP on Monday.

He said that the government had made efforts to protect the wild species from becoming extinct. An adequate amount was spent to equip the department as well as enrolling employees to overcome shortage of manpower.

He said that wildlife department has focused mainly on conservation of Markhore, Urial and Muskdeer. It has inducted community wildlife guard in the villages to monitor the illegal hunting and harmful activities, which might affect the existence of the species.

Ayub said that by conserving these species they would encourage trophy hunting in line with reserved quota of the government. He said the department has procured vehicles and other equipments necessary for community wildlife guards so that they could contribute effectively towards the targets.

He said that a number of measures have also been taken by the department to create awareness among the masses about the importance of wildlife in the society. “We are concentrating on community participation by involving them in the conservation process, as they are the best protectors,” Ayub said.

He appreciated the active participation of communities and added that communities in Ghizer, Hunza, Astor and Baltistan were cooperative and had played a vital role in the conservation.

He was of the view that the Northern Areas were best sanctuaries of rare species and the government should conserve this asset by all means, adding that severe action would be taken against poachers.

Naltar hydro-electric project to start functioning by Dec 2006: The work on gigantic 18 mega watt hydro-electric project is in full swing and it will start functioning by the end of December 2006. Official sources in Water and Power Department told APP on Monday the work to lay transmission lines over 35 kilometres of area had been accelerated.

They said a local grid station was being established in the area to ensure uninterrupted electricity supply. They hoped the supply would boost the local industries and expand business activities in the area. Officials said that the government was employing local people so that they could work more devotedly. app

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