Tamghas, Aug.22: Resunga Municipality in Gulmi has hired watchmen to control the monkey menace.

The locals were fed up with monkeys wreaking havoc in their maize fields. The municipality hired watchmen to chase away the monkeys and protect the maize farms. 

Shanta Marasini, of Resunga Municipality-9, said, “One morning when I was trying to chase away the monkeys from the farm, they tried to attack me. Monkeys have spread terror to the locals, if bitten or scratched by them, we need to take the rabies vaccine, “she added. 

Sita Marasani from the same ward said that monkeys often enter her house and eat all the maize harvested recently. “There is no sign of relief for us even after we managed to store the maize inside the house,”

According to Ramji Panthi, Chairperson of Ward No.7, a total of 25 watchmen were hired to look after different areas of the ward. They were hired with a total budget of Rs 150,000, he stated.

Chairperson of Ward No. 9, Krishna Prasad Pandey said that two guards were hired by Ward No.9 to chase away the monkeys. They will guard the farm until maize is harvested. Each watchman will be paid a total of Rs.20,000 for accomplishing their job.

“The watchmen will work until the maize is harvested and if the guards are unable to chase monkeys, the locals will also help them,” said Pandey. The decision to hire the watchmen was made through the coordination of Chairperson Dilli Raj Marasani of the Community Development Organiaation. Likewise, the payment will also be managed through Marasani.