Sir,
Monkeys in many places across Jammu region are posing a serious problem to the people in general and the farmers in particular.Their population has been growing at an alarming rate and they have been creating nuisance in some villages to such an extent that majority of farmers in the affected villages have given up sowing crops, which has adversely affected their financial position.One such town affected by monkey menace is Thial, located at a distance of about 50 Kms from Udhampur.The monkeys here cause a lot of loss to the people at home or in the fields.
They eat or destroy various cereal crops, vegetables, fruits etc causing huge loss to the farmers and tear or damage household articles such as clothes, shoes etc. and throw out excreta causing foul smell. Not only this,they attack children and womenfolk suddenly, sometimes causing them grievous injuries.The gang of monkeys enter the school premises and scare the students and the teachers.They are expanding their territories with each passing day and many of them can be seen roaming even in the cities scaring and attacking people and causing damage to the household articles.Sometimes,the gang of monkeys scare the school going children to such an extent that they find it difficult to go to or come from school.
Many people have since migrated to cities and other areas owing to the monkey menace and if measures are not taken, more families may migrate.Thus,the government ought to take measures such as relocating them to the forests,administering them oral contraceptives and opening sterilisation centres to control their population.Moreover, feeding of monkeys on the roadside ,at temples and other places, which is an offence under the Wildlife Protection Act, should be strictly banned and violators must be heavily fined.Feeding them on roadside has adversly affected their natural habitat.
Despite ban having been imposed,some people can be seen openly feeding them on the roadside near Manwal and Battal.Other measures to control monkey menace include planting fruit trees near the forests, using mild and safe electric current and growing crops such as ginger, turmeric,marigold, lemon grass etc which are not eaten by the monkeys.It is hoped that the concerned authorities will realise the hardships being faced by the people of Thial and other areas affected by this menace,rise to the occasion and take effective steps to control this ever growing menace.
Ashok Sharma,
Housing Colony,
Udhampur.
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