India, March 6 -- The state government will request the central government to allow industrialists to open animal rescue and rehabilitation centres in the state, along the lines of Vantara in Gujarat, state forest minister Ganesh Naik told the assembly on Wednesday.

"I have spoken to forest officers and directed them to send a proposal to the central government," Naik said during a debate in the assembly on rising instances of man-animal conflict.

"I have also written to Reliance Foundation director Anant Ambani to start a Vantara-like project in Maharashtra. He can name it 'Chandtara' or 'Suryatara'," Naik noted.

Vantara, established by Reliance Industries and Reliance Foundation within the company's refinery complex in Gurajat's Jamn...