Lok Sabha Question No. 2797 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-03-12
Subject: Damage to Crops by Elephants
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: S. Muniswamy

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 2797

TO BE ANSWERED ON 12.03.2021

## Damage to Crops by Elephants

## 2797.  SHRI S. MUNISWAMY:

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

- (a) whether the Government is aware that elephants from the border of Andhra Pradesh and Tamil  Nadu  forest  areas  frequently  enter  into  agricultural  lands  and  destroy  crops  in Malur, Bangarpet and Kolar Gold Fields constituencies in Kolar district of Karnataka;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether any representation has been received by the Government in this regard; and
- (d)

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

- (a) Yes Sir. Elephants from the boarder of Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu frequently enter  into  agricultural  lands  and  destroy  crops  in  Malur,  Bangrpet  and  Kolar  Gold Fields constituencies in Kolar district of Karnataka.
- (b) The details of crop damage in damages caused by wild animals including elephants during the last three years in Kolar district of Karnataka are given below:

(Rs in Lakhs)

| Details     | 2018-19     | 2018-19   | 2019-20     | 2019-20   | 2020-21(till 04.03.2021)   | 2020-21(till 04.03.2021)   |
|-------------|-------------|-----------|-------------|-----------|----------------------------|----------------------------|
|             | No of cases | Amount    | No of cases | Amount    | No of cases                | Amount                     |
| Crop Damage | 357         | 41.541    | 1488        | 52.96     | 866                        | 47.18                      |

- (c) & (d) Yes Sir.  A representation from Shri S.Muniswamy, Hon'ble Member of Parliament, was received by the Ministry on 28.12.2020 for measures to be adopted for mitigation of  Human-Elephant  Conflict.    Ministry  referred  the  representation  to  the  Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife) and Chief Wildlife Warden, Government of Karnataka  seeking  comments  and  updated  status  on  action  taken  in  the  matter.    A

reply  in  this  respect  by  the  Hon'ble  Minister,  Environment,  Forest  and  Climate Change to Hon'ble Member of Parliament has already been provided vide letter no. DO No. 8-1/2019-PE dated 3 rd February, 2021. The copy of the letter is annexed.

However,  the  responsibility  of  managing  human  elephant  conflict  lies  with  State Government.    Under  'Project  Elephant'  scheme,  Ministry  has  provided  financial assistance  to  State  Government  in  which,  inter  alia,  funding  for  managing  human elephant  conflict  is  one  of  component.    The  details  of  fund  released  to  State Government of Karnataka during the last three financial years are provided below:

(Rs. in Lakhs)

| State/UTs   |   2018-19 |   2019-20 |   2020-21 (as on 8/0/2021) |
|-------------|-----------|-----------|----------------------------|
| Karnataka   |   353.914 |   319.648 |                    330.404 |

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