Dehradun/Haridwar, Dec. 21 -- Chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Saturday said solar fencing and sensor-based alert systems will be installed across the state to address the rising incidents of human-wildlife conflicts. Dhami further announced a series of measures aimed at protecting human lives, crops and property. Speaking to the media persons in Dehradun, the chief minister said several cases of human-wildlife conflict are being reported in the state. "In areas where wildlife is damaging agricultural and horticultural crops, physical infrastructure and human lives, effective steps will be taken through solar fencing and sensor-based alert mechanisms," he said. The chief minister said modern wildlife sterilisation centres will be established in every district under the forest department to control the population of animals such as langurs, monkeys, pigs and bears. He also announced that rescue and rehabilitation centres for animals involved in human-wildlife conflict would be opened in all districts. "For these centres, a minimum of 10 nali of land will be reserved in hilly forest areas and at least one acre in plain forest areas," Dhami said. He added that all these works would be given top priority and a detailed strategy for implementing the schemes would be presented within two weeks. An additional Rs.5 crore will be allocated to the forest department to provide essential resources such as nets, cages and tranquiliser guns, he said. Dhami also said the state would seek amendments to relevant provisions of the Wildlife Act to decentralise powers and empower forest officers at the ranger level to declare certain animals as prohibited. "Necessary changes in the rules will be made for this purpose," he said, adding that he had discussed the issue with Union minister for environment and forests Bhupender Yadav a day earlier. Meanwhile, the forest department began installing solar fencing in highly sensitive villages of the Lansdowne forest division to prevent intrusion by animals such as elephants, bears and leopards, officials said. According to forest department officials, a pilot project is being implemented at Nathupur village in Simalchaud area, which falls under the Duggada forest range of the Lansdowne forest division. "Solar fencing work has been completed at Nathupur revenue village, which comes under the Silgadh beat of the Duggada range. This will help prevent wild animals from entering the village and nearby agricultural fields, which have been severely affected by frequent wildlife movement," said Umesh Chandra Joshi, range officer, Duggada range. According to officials, the forest department has intensified vigilance in the Dwarikhal block of Pauri Garhwal district following repeated sightings of a bear near human habitation, including sightings reported by school-going children. As a precautionary measure, forest department personnel are escorting students of Primary School, Junior High School Barsudi and Government Inter College Kaindul Thangar to and from their homes and schools to ensure their safety, officials said....