PUNE, Nov. 5 -- Following a surge in leopard attacks across Junnar, Ambegaon, Khed and Shirur talukas, the state government on Tuesday, November 4, approved Rs.11.25 crore in funds for immediate and comprehensive measures to curb the growing man-animal conflict in Pune district. The decision was taken during a high-level meeting chaired by deputy chief minister and guardian minister Ajit Pawar in Mumbai. The meeting was attended by forests minister Ganesh Naik; former ministers Dilip Walse-Patil and Shivajirao Adhalrao-Patil; and senior forest and district officials. Pune district collector Jitendra Dudi and superintendent of police Sandeep Singh Gill joined via video conferencing. Pawar emphasised that preventing human casualties is the government's top priority and urged citizens to remain calm. "The government is fully committed to protecting human lives while ensuring wildlife conservation. Immediate action will begin under the new fund allocation, and preventing loss of life remains our highest priority," he said. The decision to sanction funds follows sustained efforts by Ambegaon MLA Dilip Walse-Patil. The funds will strengthen rescue operations under the Junnar forest division which covers 611.22 square kilometres across four conflict-prone talukas. The past few years have seen a sharp spike in leopard sightings in these talukas due to favourable conditions such as sugarcane cultivation, abundant water sources, and availability of prey....