Lok Sabha Question No. 2217 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-11-29
Subject: Man-Animal Conflict
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: P.K.SREEMATHI TEACHER, RAMACHANDRAN MULLAPPALLY

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 2217

TO BE ANSWERED ON 29.11.2016

## Man-Animal Conflict

## 2217.   SHRIMATI P.K. SREEMATHI TEACHER: SHRI MULLAPPALLY RAMACHANDRAN:

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

- (a)   the number of incidents of man animal conflict and death due to such conflict during the last three years and the current year, animal and State-wise;
- (b)   whether it is a fact that the increased incidents of man-animal conflicts is due to the wild animals leaving the forests and entering human habitations;
- (c) if so, the steps taken by the Government to keep the wild animals inside the forest area;
- (d)   whether any funding assistance has been sought by the States including Kerala to address the issues including creation of safe zone for tigers and elephants; and
- (e) if so, the details thereof and the action taken thereon, State-wise?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER  OF  STATE  (INDEPENDENT  CHARGE)  FOR  ENVIRONMENT,  FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

## (SHRI ANIL MADHAV DAVE)

- (a) Incidence of man-animal conflict and death due to such conflict are reported in various parts of the country from  time to time. However,  as the management of forest and wildlife is the responsibility of State Governments, State-wise and year-wise data of such incidents are not collated the Ministry.
- (b) Species  like  blue  bull,  monkeys,  leopards  are  known  to  be  present  at  forest fringes and human habitats. Changing crop pattern adjoining the forest areas and  movement  of  wild  animals  are  some  of  the  important  reasons  of incidences of man-animal conflicts.
- (c) The Central Government provides financial assistance to State/Union Territory Governments under the Centrally Sponsored Schemes of Integrated Development of Wildlife Habitats, 'Project Tiger' and 'Project Elephant 'for management  of  wildlife  and  its  habitats  in the  country. The  activities

supported under the scheme inter-alia include construction/erection of physical barriers, such as barbed wire fence, solar powered electric fence, biofencing using cactus, boundary walls etc. to prevent the entry of wild animals into crop fields; improvement  of  wildlife habitat of wild animals by augmenting  the  availability  of  food  and  water  in  forest  areas  to  reduce  the entry of animals from forests to habitations; payment of ex-gratia relief to the victims  of  wild  animal  attacks  and  depredation;  and  setting  up  of  antidepredation squads to drive away problematic animals.

The Ministry, with financial assistance from Ad-hoc Compensatory Afforestation  Fund  Management  and  Planning  Authority  (CAMPA),  has formulated a scheme to provide assistance to the States for 'Augmentation of Fodder  and  Water  in  Protected  areas/Forest  Areas',  aimed  at  improving habitat  in  the  areas  by  making  provision  for  augmenting  grass,  fodder  and water  to  the  wild  herbivores  which  would decrease  the  frequency  of  wild animals  coming  out  of  forest  in  search  of  food  and  water  and  subsequent conflict situations.

- (d)&(e) Yes sir. Proposals have been received from the State Government of Kerala, Jammu  &  Kashmir,  Nagaland  and  Tamil  Nadu  for  financial  assistance  to address man-animal conflicts. The Ministry, after examining the proposals has released  the  funds  under  the  Centrally  Sponsored  Schemes  of  'Integrated Development of Wildlife Habitats. Details of funds released are as under:

(Rs. in lakh)

|                   | Years   | Years   |
|-------------------|---------|---------|
| Name of the State | 2015-16 | 2016-17 |
| Kerala            | 154.66  | 130.21  |
| Nagaland          | 150.20  | 0       |
| Jammu &Kashmir    | 354.00  | 0       |

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