Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh): Chief Minister Mohan Yadav requested Union Minister for Forest and Climate Change Bhupender Yadav to initiate snake counting, stating that due to the absence of such efforts, the King Cobra has disappeared from Madhya Pradesh.
CM Yadav was addressing the inaugural session of a two-day national level workshop focused on Forest Conservation in Bhopal on Friday.
People migrate due to snakebites
Citing the importance of snake counting, Chief Minister Mohan Yadav said that most snakebite incidents occur in forested areas. In Madhya Pradesh, particularly in the Mahakaushal region, a large number of people die due to snakebites.
Out of fear, many have started migrating to urban areas. He noted that the King Cobra, which feeds on other snakes, could help maintain ecological balance.
'We carry Britishers' corpses'
He also questioned the preference for planting teak (sagwan) trees in forests, suggesting that a variety of tree species should be cultivated instead. He remarked that it was the British who started planting teak for commercial purposes, adding, "We are still carrying their corpse."
Speaking about the translocation of cheetahs to Gandhi Sagar Sanctuary, he said that tigers have now reached as far as Dewas, but this is not being acknowledged on official records due to the lack of a sanctuary and other sensitive reasons. He added that the government is keeping its cards close to its chest in this matter.
Emphasizing the harmonious relationship between tribals and nature, he highlighted that many sacred sites exist within forests, dating back thousands of years, and stressed the need to pay more attention to them.
Earlier, Union Minister Bhupender Yadav spoke about the global challenges in nature conservation, citing biodiversity loss, climate change, and desertification as the major concerns. He also mentioned the various conservation strategies adopted globally over time and called for a balanced approach to tackle these pressing issues.
