Lok Sabha Question No. 268 (STARRED), answered on 2018-01-05
Subject: Rise in Elephant Menace
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: NALIN KUMAR KATEEL, DODDAALAHALLI KEMPEGOWDA SURESH

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. *268

TO BE ANSWERED ON 05.01.2018

## Rise in Elephant Menace

## *268.   SHRI NALIN KUMAR KATEEL: SHRI D.K. SURESH:

Will the Minister of ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  incidents  of  elephant  menace  has  risen  in  the  country  particularly  in Karnataka;
- (b) if so, the details thereof along with the number of such incidents reported during the last three years and the current year, State and year-wise;
- (c) whether the Government has taken any effective measures to prevent elephant menace in the country and if so, the details thereof; and
- (d) whether the Government has also taken steps to provide compensation to the families and farmers affected by elephant menace and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER FOR ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

(DR. HARSH VARDHAN)

- (a) to (d) A statement is laid on the Table of the House.

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## STATEMENT  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PARTS  (a)  to  (d)  OF  THE  LOK SABHA  STARRED  QUESTION  NO.  *268  REGARDING  'RISE  IN  ELEPHANT MENACE' DUE FOR REPLY ON 5.1.2018

- (a)& (b) Yes  Madam,  reports  of  menace  caused  by  elephants  are  received  from various parts of the country, including Karnataka.  Number of people killed, State-wise, during the last three years is given at Annexure I.
- (c) Yes  Madam,  following  steps  are  being  taken  by  the  Government  to minimize the impacts of elephant menace.
- i. Financial  and  technical  assistance  is  provided  to  elephant  range states under the Centrally Sponsored Schemes 'Project Elephant'.
- ii. Elephant  range  States  notify the critical  elephant habitats as 'Elephant Reserves' for better management of wild elephants.  So far 29 Elephant Reserves have been established in 14 States
- iii. Elephant  is  listed  under  Schedule  I  of  the  Wildlife  Protection  Act, 1972, to provide it highest degree of legal protection.
- iv. Solar  powered  fencing  and  elephant  proof  trenches  are  used  to prevent elephant menace.
- v. The  latest  technologies  such  as  WhatsApp,  SMS  based  alert system, use of Radio Collaring of elephant etc. are used to minimise elephant depredation.
- vi. Improvement of National Parks, Wildlife Sanctuary, Critical habitat, including Elephant Reserves and Corridors is carried out regularly.
- vii. Use of used rails to create elephant proof barrier.
- (d) Yes Madam.  Ministry has been providing assistance to states for paying compensation to the families and farmers affected by elephant menace in following rates.

|   Sl. No. | Nature of damage caused by wild animals   | Compensation rate                                      |
|-----------|-------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------|
|         1 | Death or permanent incapacitation         | Rs. 2,00,000/-                                         |
|         2 | Grievous injury                           | 30 %of (1)                                             |
|         3 | Minor Injury                              | Cost of treatment                                      |
|         4 | Loss of property                          | Value of loss/damage as assessed by authorized officer |

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ANNEXURE -I

ANNEXURE REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PART (a) & (b) OF THE LOK SABHA STARRED  QUESTION  NO.  *268  REGARDING  'RISE  IN  ELEPHANT  MENACE' DUE FOR REPLY ON 5.1.2018

## HUMAN DEATHS CAUSED BY ELEPHANTS

| S.No.   | State             | 2014-15   | 2015-16           | 2016-17                           | 2017-18 (upto November 2017)      |
|---------|-------------------|-----------|-------------------|-----------------------------------|-----------------------------------|
| 1       | Andhra Pradesh 2  | 0         | 2                 |                                   | 3                                 |
| 2       | Arunachal Pradesh | 1         | 1 Information Not | Received Information Not Received | Received Information Not Received |
| 3       | Assam             | 54        | 31 91             | 31                                | 31                                |
| 4       | Chhattisgarh      | 32        | 59 67             | Information Not Received          | Information Not Received          |
| 5       | Jharkhand         | 53 66     | 59                | 38                                | 38                                |
| 6       | Karnataka         | 53 47     | 49                | 9 (upto 16.8.2017)                | 9 (upto 16.8.2017)                |
| 7       | Kerala            | 20 6      | 22                | Information Received              | Not                               |
| 8       | Maharashtra       | 3 0       | 0                 | Information Received              | Not                               |
| 9       | Meghalaya         | 3 9       | Information Not   | Received Information Received     | Not                               |
| 10      | Nagaland          | 1 1       | 1                 | Information Received              | Not                               |
| 11      | Odisha            | 64 63     | 65                | 42                                | 42                                |
| 12      | Tamil Nadu        | 31 47     | 43                | 36                                | 36                                |
| 13      | Tripura           | 1 0       | 2                 | Information Received              | Not                               |
| 14      | Uttar Pradesh     | 1 0       | 3                 | 1                                 | 1                                 |
| 15      | Uttarakhand       | 7 7       | 4                 | Information Received              | Not                               |
| 16      | West Bengal       | 89 112    | 84                | 41                                |                                   |
|         | Total             | 415       | 449 492           | 201                               |                                   |