Prayagraj: In a bid to tackle the growing monkey menace in urban areas, Uttar Pradesh govt has decided to develop ‘Kapi Vans’ (Monkey Forests) in designated locations across the state. The initiative aims to provide monkeys with natural habitats and reduce human-animal conflict.In Prayagraj, more than half a dozen urban neighbourhoods are currently grappling with the monkey menace, and the monkeys’ presence in homes, marketplaces and public spaces is causing significant distress to the residents.Additional municipal commissioner Arvind Rai said the proposed forests would offer monkeys adequate food and shelter away from human settlements.“The objective is to provide them with sufficient food and shelter outside of human habitats, which is expected to help reduce attacks on humans,” he said.The department of environment, forest and climate change has been designated as the nodal department for this initiative, with the municipal corporation also playing a key role.Plans are in place to set up ‘Kapi Van’ across all 762 urban local bodies across the state. So far, such forests have already been developed in 120 of these urban bodies, and instructions have now been issued to identify suitable land in the remaining 642.Priority will be given to planting local and fruit-bearing tree species within these ‘Kapi Van’ areas.Also, govt has set a target to complete this initiative by 2028. In addition to developing natural habitats for monkeys, measures are also being taken to curb the specific conditions that draw these animals into residential areas and lead to chaos.Rai said this will require improvements in waste management, public awareness and the implementation of necessary measures in areas affected by monkeys.“To this end, ‘monkey-proof’ waste bins will be installed in sensitive locations. Areas with a high concentration of fruit or vegetable vendors — places where monkeys are most frequently spotted — are currently being identified,” he said.Moreover, experts will be consulted for the capture, transport and relocation of monkeys.The PMC will also launch a dedicated campaign to educate the public on the importance of not feeding monkeys and avoiding the disposal of waste in open areas.Awareness campaigns regarding safety will be conducted at railway stations, airports, schools, parks and religious sites. Crucially, a separate database will be maintained to track incidents of monkey bites. The availability of anti-rabies vaccines and appropriate medical treatment will be ensured across all govt and private hospitals in the city. Additionally, the ‘108’ emergency service will be available to provide immediate medical assistance in the event of a monkey attack or bite.