Kashmir to move rare goats to restore Mughal road
By Ashok Pahalwan Thu Aug 2, 6:31 AM ET
JAMMU, India (Reuters) - Officials in Kashmir plan to relocate 200 endangered Markhors, a rare species of goat, after a top court ended a year-long dispute and ruled that a Mughal road running through their habitat could be restored.
The Markhor, which has long spiralling horns, inhabits the mountainous region of Kashmir in India and Pakistan and is hunted for trophies as well as its meat, considered a local delicacy.
India is estimated to have a total population of 300 -- 200 of which are found in southwest Kashmir's Hirpora, Lachipora and Limber wildlife sanctuaries.
But after months of wrangling between environmentalists and the government, the Supreme Court has finally ruled that an ancient 16th century road which runs through the three parks can be restored provided the rare wild goats are moved.
"The government has already approved about 170 million rupees for the Markhor rehabilitation plan over the next five years for that purpose," said A.K. Srivastava, Kashmir's chief wildlife warden.
Wildlife officials said they have identified 150 sq km of land nearby which would be converted into a wildlife sanctuary for the goats.
The Supreme Court last week cleared work on the ancient Mughal Road that links Srinagar to the districts of Poonch and Rajouri.
Work on the 2.5 billion rupees road project had been stopped last year after environmentalist moved the court saying it would threaten the rare wild goats and other wildlife.
But supporters of the road, which is lined with historic Mughal era monuments, say it will be a tourist attraction and will also help ease the movement of Indian troops in the area.
(Additional reporting by Samanwaya Rautray in New Delhi)
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The Markhor, which has long spiralling horns, inhabits the mountainous region of Kashmir in India and Pakistan and is hunted for trophies as well as its meat, considered a local delicacy.
India is estimated to have a total population of 300 -- 200 of which are found in southwest Kashmir's Hirpora, Lachipora and Limber wildlife sanctuaries.
But after months of wrangling between environmentalists and the government, the Supreme Court has finally ruled that an ancient 16th century road which runs through the three parks can be restored provided the rare wild goats are moved.
"The government has already approved about 170 million rupees for the Markhor rehabilitation plan over the next five years for that purpose," said A.K. Srivastava, Kashmir's chief wildlife warden.
Wildlife officials said they have identified 150 sq km of land nearby which would be converted into a wildlife sanctuary for the goats.
The Supreme Court last week cleared work on the ancient Mughal Road that links Srinagar to the districts of Poonch and Rajouri.
Work on the 2.5 billion rupees road project had been stopped last year after environmentalist moved the court saying it would threaten the rare wild goats and other wildlife.
But supporters of the road, which is lined with historic Mughal era monuments, say it will be a tourist attraction and will also help ease the movement of Indian troops in the area.
(Additional reporting by Samanwaya Rautray in New Delhi)
Read this article on the Yahoo News site
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm
OvF_O.TpV4hMgF
Godavarman Hearing, 6th February 2009
