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| Three years on, Hangul Breeding Center breeds apathy, indifference | | Minister in deep slumber | | Saahil Suhail
Anantnag, May 4: Due to the apathetic attitude of state government especially of state Wild life department towards the militancy affected Tral area of South Kashmir, its Hangul Breeding Center at Shikargah continues to remain a non starter for years now.
Ironically, officials and employees of the department continue to breed and preserve the pictures of endangered Hangul- the only surviving species of the Red Deer family in the sub-continent, as the lone first animal (Hangul) that was taken to the breeding center for captive breeding became prey to leopard allegedly. However contrary to official claims locals say that animal received electric shock and died due to negligence of employees. The multi-crore Hagul Breeding Center at Shikargah Tral was established in August 2011 with an aim to increase the declining number of Hangul (Red Stag) in the state with the help of Central Zoo Authority of India; however the center remains defunct since the very first animal died.
Hangul Breeding Center spread over a beautiful patch of land in the foot hills if surely is dysfunctional and has no Hangul to breed but has enough pictures of the animal.Locals at Shikargah Tral said that Center was inaugurated by Forest and Environment Minister Mian Altaf Ahmad but it seems since the inauguration minister seems to be in slumber. "Because of the security situation prevailing here government is ignoring whole tral area on all fronts whether it is the development of roads or providing basic amenities. Same thing happened with this project. It was an employment generating project for us, had this project gone successful it might have also attracted the tourists which could have directly provided us the employment." said a youth, Aijaz Nisar.
He said that breeding center has turned to be a favorite destination for officers particularly for wild life department.
"Crores of rupees were spent on it but now what we are witnessing is that the employees and officers of the department as well as of other departments as well would come, sit and enjoy themselves." He said, adding mostly farewell parties are being conducted in this breeding center. Locals have demanded Chief Minister Omar Abdullah's intervention in restoring the breeding center which not only can play an important role in preserving endangered species of Hagul but can also generate employment for a large number of unemployed youth as it has enough tourism potential.
The Hangul- struggling for survival in the slopes of Dachigam National Park here, with a brownish coat and two antlers is listed as an endangered species in the Red Data Book of the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Species.Poached for its meat, antlers and skin, the Hangul numbers have been on the decline for past many decades. From around 3,000, the figure dropped to 900 in 1989 which dwindled to near about 200 a few years back. |
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