To check the population of monkeys, Himachal Pradesh Forest Minister Govind Singh Thakur on Tuesday said so far 1.57 Lakh monkeys in the state have been sterlized in eight monkey sterlization centres of the Forest Department.

Presiding over a one-day workshop organised by the Wild life wing of Himachal Pradesh forest department on 'Human Wildlife Conflict' at Shimla which was basically to reduce the conflict between human and monkeys, Thakur said that efforts are being made by the state government to find a sustainable solution to problem of monkeys in the state.

"Sterilization of monkeys has proved to be a successful solution in the state and providing a relief to the farmers. So far, one lakh 57 thousand moneys have been sterilized in eight monkey sterilization centres of forest department in the state," he said.

The minister said training would be provided to local people by the forest department to capture monkeys and the incentive to capture monkeys has been increased to Rs. one thousand.

The Forest Minister said that 548 panchayats of the state are vulnerable to monkey menace. He said such workshops should be organized in vulnerable panchayats to provide training to the locals.

Thakur laid emphasis on plantation of fruit bearing saplings in forests, so that monkeys don't enter human settlements in search of food. 

Additional Chief Secretary Ram Subhag Singh said that suggestions received in the workshop for controlling monkey menace would be considered for implementation.

Principal Chief Conservator Dr. Savita said forest department is committed to reduce human-wildlife conflict and the workshop was organized to discuss related issues. 1100 monkey hotspots have been identified in the state.

She said from time to time a check on population of monkeys was being kept through survey conducted by forest department. 91 Tehsils and sub-Tehsils and Municipal Corporation Shimla area have been declared vermin for a period of one year.

Mayor Kusum Sadret, Deputy Mayor Rakesh Sharma and other senior officers of forest department were present in the workshop.