A home away from home for simians

Hyderabad: With the state government deciding to set up a rescue and rehabilitation centre for monkeys, citizens will get freedom from monkey menace. Hyderabad alone is estimated to have population of 2,000 monkeys.

A rehab centre is being set up in Adilabad district where captured monkeys from across the state would be nurtured in natural environs. An order to this effect was issued on Saturday.

The rehab centre for simians would be established as a pilot project at Chincholi near Nirmal town in the district. The rehab centre would provide facilities to the captured monkeys.

The facility would come up at a cost of Rs 2.21 crore, including Rs 1.56 crore as non-recurring expenditure and Rs 65 lakh as recurring cost for the first year.

The government accepted a proposal submitted by the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF) for establishing the rehab centre in view of increased biotic pressure on forest habitats and increased population of monkeys, according to State Secretary (Environment and Forests Department) Vikas Raj.

The official noted that monkey menace has created a serious man-animal conflict in the urban, sub-urban and rural areas.