Thursday, March 17 2005 19:39 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: The Central Government has submitted an action plan before the Supreme Court suggesting a ban on feeding monkeys to dissuade people from encouraging these animals to stay in urban areas.

The Action Plan for Control of Stray Animal Menace prepared by the Ministry of Environment and Forests was placed before a Bench comprising Justice YK Sabharwal and Justice DM Dharmadhikari by counsel ADN Rao.

The Court, after accepting the action plan, which was originally prepared to tackle the monkey menace in Delhi and Shimla, asked all the State Governments to set a date by when they could implement the plan.

The Court also asked the Governments to name the implementing authority and State if any more provisions needed to be incorporated in the Action Plan.