Pune: District Collector Suhas Divase has officially declared Junnar Taluka as a leopard emergency natural disaster zone. To address the crisis, a fund of ₹5.50 crore from the Natural Disaster Fund has been allocated for relief efforts in Junnar.

As part of the plan, a 24-hour rapid force will be deployed to monitor leopard movements, and local farmers will receive three-phase electricity during the day to enhance safety in the region, according to former MLA Sharad Sonawane.

The declaration follows the recent tragic death of Sujata Dere, who was killed in a leopard attack in Pimpri Pendhar, Junnar. In response, former MLA Sonawane staged a protest at the site of the incident, demanding that Junnar Taluka be made free of leopards.

The protest received widespread support, with Pimpri Pendhar village observing a one-day bandh, and thousands of local residents showing solidarity.

On Monday, Sonawane held a meeting with District Collector Suhas Divase in Pune to discuss immediate measures to address the issue. The meeting was attended by key officials, including Chief Conservator of Forests N. Praveen, Deputy Conservator of Forests Amol Satpute, and Tehsildar Sunil Shelke, along with various local leaders and village heads.

Later that evening, Sonawane called off his protest after discussions, with Surekha Vethekar, Devdatt Dumbare, and Bhanuvilas Gadhve officially concluding the event.

Sonawane emphasized that no further loss of life should occur due to leopard attacks and warned that if any additional deaths took place, the forest department office would be shut down permanently. He further pointed out that Junnar is currently home to more than 1,500 leopards, necessitating long-term solutions.

To address the crisis, the capacity of the Manikdoh Leopard Rescue Center will be expanded, and the authorities are seeking approval to reclassify leopards from Category 1 to Category 2, along with permission to implement a sterilization program for the leopards.