Rs 82 lakh petrol used for patrolling in Gir forest.

By Himanshu Kaushik, TNN | 10 Mar, 2015, 12.23PM IST

AHMEDABAD: The 309 bikes used for patrolling in Sasan Gir and adjoining forest areas have consumed fuel worth Rs 81.98 lakh in the last two years. This comes to be around Rs 36 per bike per day. A sum of Rs 10.83 lakh was used for repairs and maintenance of these bikes.

In the reply to a question by Mahudha MLA Natwarsinh Thakore, the state government said that from February 1, 2013 to January 31, 2014 petrol worth Rs 42.92 lakh was used by 309 bikes for patrolling and during the same period in 2014-2015 petrol worth Rs 39.06 lakh was used.

The bikes were given for effective patrolling in Gir sanctuary and areas near the sanctuary. Each staffer had been instructed to maintain a logbook and not to use the vehicle for personal use, said the government.

In the reply to another question by Thakore, the government said that 124 lions and 135 leopards had died in Gir and Dhari regions in the last two years ending January 31, 2015.

The government said that 63 lions and 69 leopards died between February 1, 2013 and January 31, 2014, while during same period in 2014-2015 the number of lion deaths was 61 and that of leopards was 66. However, the government made it clear that no animal was poached in last two years.

Power to sarpanch

The state government said the village sarpanch has been given the power to eliminate neelgai destroying the standing crops. The government has also introduced a scheme to give 50% subsidy for creating barbed wire fencing around the fields.