Gujarat lions
Gujarat has 891 lions spread across 30,000 sq km in the Saurashtra region, according to the 2025 census.
However, officials said that there is no possibility of reducing the ESZ for Gir sanctuary itself. Officials said tractors and other farm machinery could be permitted to run in the area, while fencing may be allowed. Officials said that wells could also be allowed subject to safety conditions. Minister of state for forest and environment Pravin Mali said the meeting was held as the matter was pending before court.
Farmers will have to build parapets around wells to prevent lions from accidentally falling in. The decisions followed a meeting of forest and environment officials with legislators to discuss difficulties faced by farmers.
The proposed relaxations will be incorporated in a report before the final proposal is sent to the Centre for approval.
Mali said those who had already submitted claims would not face any difficulties. “If there has been any misunderstanding, we will sit together and resolve it,” he said. Officials said tractors and other farm machinery could be permitted to run in the area
The ESZ proposal has triggered opposition in villages across Gir-Somnath, Junagadh, and Amreli. Farmers have raised concerns over possible restrictions on cultivation, farm construction, electricity connections, and fencing.