Stop illegal mining around Gir sanctuary to save lions: Report to HC

Stopping illegal mining around the Gir sanctuary and penalizing people who put up electric fences around their fields are some of the measures suggested saving lions in a report submitted to the Gujarat High Court.

The report was submitted last month by senior advocate Hemang Shah, who was appointed an amicus curiae by a division bench of Chief Justice R Subhash Reddy and Justice V M Pancholi while admitting a suo moto PIL in March over the issue of death of lions in Gir.

The Gir sanctuary in Gujarat is the last abode of Asiatic lions.

The bench had issued notices to Gujarat and central governments after taking suo motu (on its own) cognizance of news reports regarding the government telling the Assembly on March 5 that 184 Gir lions died in two years in 2016 and 2017 - 32 of them died due to "unnatural" causes.

The unnatural causes included electrocution, lions falling into open wells and being hit by trains as well as other vehicles.

Shah suggested installation of cameras and speed guns at every 500 meters to ensure vehicles passing through roads near the Gir forest do not knock down lions.

It would also help authorities in detecting vehicles involved in knocking down lions, the report said.

To deter people from putting up electric fences to protect their fields and properties from wild animals, which also causes the death of lions, Shah suggested of imposing a hefty fine on erring persons.

In addition, their electricity supply should be disconnected. Also, criminal cases involving such persons should be "fast-tracked by hearing them on a day-to-day basis without the provision of any adjournment", the report said.

On the issue of protecting natural corridors used by lions for migration, it cited a news report about illegal sand mining in the Gir area.

"Unfortunately, the mining site happens to be the natural corridor for the movement of lions," the report said.

"It would be necessary that the entire area falling within the eco-sensitive zone be declared as no mining zone. If there are any open mining pits then the same should be forthwith be filled," it suggested.

Shah cited news reports which suggested that as against the allocation of Rs 9 lakh for the conservation of each tiger, the Centre has allotted just Rs 95,000 per lion.

The amicus curiae's report suggested that the state, as well as the central government, should be directed by the high court to "disclose" allocation of funds for lion conservation.

Giving his opinion about the chain fencing work carried out along the rail tracks to save lions from getting run over by trains passing through forest areas, Shah said this measure would "curtail" the hunting area of lions.

"By putting up chain-link fencing, the hunting area of the lion pride would be curtailed as they would not be able to cross the tracks and hunt in the area which had been earmarked by them," he said.

The amicus curiae said the high court should seek an explanation from the government as to whether "any feasibility study had been undertaken before putting up chain fencing".

It is expected that the suggestions listed in the report would be discussed during the next hearing of the case scheduled on October 3.

The court will be hearing the matter at a time when as many as 14 Gir lions have died since September 11.

According to the census of 2015, there were 523 lions in the Gir sanctuary.