SRINAGAR: The Jammu and Kashmir government on Wednesday constituted a seven-member expert committee to examine in totality the issues involved in shifting of a Sheep Breeding and Research Farm from the Dachigam National Park.
Headed by Commissioner Secretary to Government, Forest Department, the committee has been asked to submit its report to the government within a month.
The committee has been tasked to see whether the Sheep Breeding Farm can be allowed to continue in the Dachigam National Park on agreed terms and conditions.
It has been also tasked to see whether the National Board for Wild Life would be willing to relax the conditions of shifting of the sheep breeding farm from Dachigam, in lieu of de-notification of National Salim Ali Park.
The 100 hectare-sheep breeding farm, comprising 800-odd sheep, is a bone of contention between the wildlife protection department and the sheep husbandry department.
The sheep farm is located adjacent to the Dachigam Wildlife Park, the last bastion for Hangul, a rare Kashmiri Red Deer.
The Wildlife authorities and some local animal rights NGOs have been lobbying for its removal under the Wildlife Protection Act, claiming the farm is a source for biotic interference to the Hangul’s habitat.
However, the Sheep Husbandry and a group of veterinary scientists have opposed the shifting of the breeding farm which exists since 1961.
The committee chairman has been given liberty to co-opt any expert(s) or retired Directors of Sheep Husbandry during the deliberations of the meeting(s) for arriving at conclusions.
To be serviced by the Forest Department, the other members of the committee include Secretary to Government Animal and Sheep Husbandry, Chief Wild Life Warden, Director, Sheep Husbandry, Representative of SKUAST Kashmir (at-least professor ranked), Environmental Scientists from University of Kashmir and a representative of National Wild Life Board.
(KNS)
