Lok Sabha Question No. 183 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-06-21
Subject: Damage to Crops by Wild Animals
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: Deepak Baij, Rahul Kaswan, Ajay (Teni) Misra

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 183

TO BE ANSWERED ON 21.06.2019

## Damage to Crops by Wild Animals

183. SHRI DEEPAK BAIJ:

SHRI RAHUL KASWAN:

SHRI AJAY MISRA TENI:

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

- (a) whether the Government provides compensation to farmers for the losses suffered by them as a result of damage to crops by stray and wild animals;
- (b) if so, the details of the scheme being implemented for the same and if not, the reasons therefor;
- (c) whether the Government has assessed the quantum of loss of farmer's crops by wild animals during the last three years and if so, the details thereof;
- (d) whether farmers are facing huge losses every year as a result of destruction of crops by wild animals and if so, the details thereof; and
- (e) the other remedial measures taken by the Government to protect crops from the wild animals?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER FOR ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE (SHRI PRAKASH JAVADEKAR)

- (a) & (b) The  Ministry  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. This assistance also includes compensation for depredation by wild animals including cattle lifting, crop damage, loss of life and property.
- (c) & (d) The management of such conflicts are handled by concern State/UT Governments. The quantum of loss of farmer's crops and the details of losses every year as a result of destruction of crops by wild animals are not collated by the Ministry.
- (e) The  remedial  measures  taken  by  the  Government  to  protect  crops  from  the  wild animals are as follows:
- i. Construction/erecting  of  physical  barriers,  such  as  barbed  wire  fence,  solar powered electric fence, bio-fencing using cactus, boundary wall etc. to prevent the entry of wild animals into crop field.
- ii. The Ministry has recently,  increased  the Ex-gratia payment in connection with wildlife depredation as follows:
- iii. The Ministry has approved a project for undertaking 'Immuno-contraceptive measures'  for  controlling  the  population  of  wild  animals  responsible  for damage and destruction of crops.
- iv. A  network  of  Protected  Areas  namely  viz.,  National  Park,  Sanctuaries, Conservation Reserves and Community Reserves covering important wildlife habitat have been created all over the country under the provisions of the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972 to conserve wild animals and their habitats.
- v. To  mitigate  wildlife  conflict  along  the  linear  infrastructures  like  rail  tracks, roads/highways  and  power  transmission  lines  passing  through  the  Protected Areas and other wildlife rich areas, Standing Committee of National Board for Wildlife has recommended that all linear infrastructure development Agencies, shall submit wild animals passage plan based on the WII Guideline 'Eco-Friendly  Measures  to  Mitigate  Impacts  of  linear  infrastructure  on Wildlife'. These guideline suggest for modification in the designs of the linear infrastructures  by  way  of  providing  eco-friendly  structure  which  will  ensure safe movement of wildlife across these linear infrastructures.
- vi. Periodic awareness campaigns to sensitize guide and advise the general public on  man-animal  conflict,  including  dissemination  of  information  through various forms of media

| 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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