Gujarat: PIL seeks lion conservation policy

dna Correspondent Updated: Jan 17, 2019, 06:45 AM IST
The Gujarat High Court on Wednesday issued a notice to the state and union governments after public interest litigation (PIL) demanding the formation of a national level conservation authority for lions, like the one formed for tigers, came up for hearing.

The PIL filed by Protection of Environment and Public Service Committee through its president Bhagwan Solanki was taken up by the division bench of Acting Chief Justice AS Dave and Justice Biren Vaishnav, which immediately issued a notice to the Centre and state directing them to file their reply in the matter by February 12.
Solanki has also sought the court's direction to the state and Centre to formulate a comprehensive long-term conservation policy for Asiatic Lions citing that the number of lions is less than the number of tigers in the country.

The petitioner has also appealed that the authorities should also frame a uniform policy and guidelines for tourism in the Gir forest area in accordance with the guidelines of the ministry of environment and forest. Sonanki has also sought a prohibition on the authorities from declaring any tourism zone within the core area of the Gir Sanctuary at Junagadh.
The petitioner has pointed out before the court that apart from Asiatic Lions, Gir is home to 38 mammalian species, more than 300 species of birds, and 37 species of herpetofauna, which necessitates the requirement for more sensitivity and protection to be accorded to the wildlife sanctuary.
https://www.dnaindia.com/ahmedabad/report-gujarat-pil-seeks-lion-conservation-policy-2708869