Lok Sabha Question No. 3318 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-07-12
Subject: Damage to Farm Land by Wild Animals
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: Dean Kuriakose

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.

## 3318 TO BE ANSWERED ON 12.07.2019

## Damage to Farm Land by Wild Animals

## 3318.  ADV. DEAN KURIAKOSE:

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

- (a) whether the Government has taken steps to prevent/deter the wild animals from reaching the farm land;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether the Government has any statutory mechanism instituted to pay compensation to farmers within 48 hours if any wild animal/animals destroy the crops; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER  OF  STATE  IN  THE  MINISTRY  OF  ENVIRONMENT,  FOREST  AND CLIMATE CHANGE (SHRI BABUL SUPRIYO)

| (a) &( b)   | The Ministry provides financial assistance to State/Union Territory Governments under the Centrally Sponsored Schemes of 'Development of Wildlife Habitats', 'Project Tiger' and 'Project Elephant' for management of wildlife and its habitats in the country. It includes compensation for depredation by wild animals including cattle lifting, crop damage, loss of life and property. The activities supported under the Schemes inter alia include construction /erection of physical barriers, such as barbed wire fence, solar powered electric fence, bio-fencing 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 and setting up of anti-depredation squads to drive away problematic animals.   |
|-------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| (c) &( d)   | The management of forest and wildlife including the management of human wildlife conflict and payment of compensation to farmers is the responsibility of concerned State Governments and such incidence are handled by concerned State Government. However, the Ministry is financially assisting the state Government for ex-gratia payment to the farmers and recently the Ministry has increased the Ex-gratia payment in connection with wildlife depredation as follows:                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 |

| Sl. No.   | Nature of damage caused by wild animals   | Amount of ex-gratia relief                                        |
|-----------|-------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------|
| (a)       | Death or permanent incapacitation         | Rs. 5,00,000/-                                                    |
| (b)       | Grievous injury                           | Rs. 2,00,000/-                                                    |
| (c)       | Minor injury                              | Cost of treatment up to Rs. 25000/- per person                    |
| (d)       | Loss of property/crops                    | State/UT Government may adhere to the cost norms prescribed them. |

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