New Delhi (PTI): Amid a controversy over the efficacy of the laser technique in curbing monkey population, Himachal Pradesh has decided to go ahead with its sterilisation programme for the simians which have created havoc in the tourist state.

The state forest department is embarking on monkey control programme in two more districts, the first one in Tutikondi in Shimla where around 2,400 monkeys have been sterilised during the last two years.

Lalit Mohan, Chief Wildlife Conservator of forest of Himachal Pradesh, told PTI that the state government has approved a proposal to set up sterilisation centres in Hamirpur and Gopal Nagar.

"The centres with laser machines of latest technology and required number of staff would be in place within next six months and we expect that we would be able to sterilise as many as monkeys at a faster pace," Mohan said.

He rejected the allegations that sterilised monkeys were reproducing again as "there have been no such cases where treated monkeys were found to be pregnant."

To control the monkey menace in areas like Shimla, Kufri and Rampur, the wildlife department has been on a sterilisation spree in the past two years, though a mere fraction (2,400) of total 60,000 simians in the region have been operated upon.