Lok Sabha Question No. 4003 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-03-19
Subject: Human-Animal Conflict in Karnataka
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: Prajwal Revanna

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4003

TO BE ANSWERED ON 19.03.2021

## Human-Animal Conflict in Karnataka

## 4003. SHRI PRAJWAL REVANNA:

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

- (a) whether the rise in incidence of human-animal conflicts including a recent incident of death of a leopard in a human settlement in Hassan district of Karnataka has come to the notice of Government;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) the total number of incidents of human-animal conflicts reported during the last three years and the current year in Karnataka including Hassan district;
- (d) whether  the  Government  has  formulated  any  policy  for  payment  of  compensation  to  the victims of such conflicts and established facilities for treatment of such people attacked by animals and vice-versa;
- (e) if so, the details thereof along with the number of victims who received compensation during the last three years; and
- (f) the steps taken by the Government to prevent such incidents in future?

## ANSWER

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

- (a) and (b) Government  has  taken  note  of  the  incidences  of  human-animal  conflicts including the recent one involving leopard death in Bendakeretanda village,BanavaraHobli,Arsikere Taluk, of  Hassan District.
- (c) Number of incidences of human-animal conflicts during the last three years and  the  current  yearin  Karnataka  including  Hassan  District,as  informed  by Government of Karnataka, areas follows:
- (d)and (e) Ministry  provides  financial  assistance  to  States  /UT's  under  the  Centrally Sponsored  Schemes  Development  of  Wildlife  Habitats,  Project  Tiger  and Project  Elephant  for  management  of  wildlife  and  its  habitats.  It  includes compensation to be paid as ex-gratia in case of depredation by wild animals

| Category             |   Number of incidences |
|----------------------|------------------------|
| Crop damage          |                  78705 |
| Cattle kill          |                   8996 |
| Human injury         |                    573 |
| Permanent disability |                     13 |
| Human deaths         |                    145 |
| Property damage      |                    600 |

including, loss of life and property.

The Ministry has enhanced the ex-gratia relief payable under CentrallySponsored Schemes inthe year 2018as follows:

| S. No.   | Nature of damage caused by wild animals           | Amount of ex-gratia relief                                             |
|----------|---------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| (a)      | Death or permanent incapacitation to human beings | Rs.5 lakh                                                              |
| (b)      | Grievous injury                                   | Rs. 2 lakh                                                             |
| (c)      | Minor injury                                      | Cost of treatment upto Rs 25000/-                                      |
| (d)      | Loss of property/crops                            | States /UT Governments may adhere to the cost norms prescribed by them |

As informed by Government of Karnataka,ex-gratia is paid to  the affected due to man-animal conflicts  as follows:

| Type of damage/injury   |   Ex-gratia (in Rs. Lakhs) |
|-------------------------|----------------------------|
| Injury by wild animals  |                        0.3 |
| Permanent disability    |                        5   |
| Human death             |                        7.5 |

In addition, monthly pension of Rs.2000/ month is paid to legal heir of the person deceased for 5 years in case of human death and permanent disability in the state of Karnataka.

Further,  as  informed  by  State  Government  of  Karnataka,expenditure  on treatment of humans  injured in wild animal attack is made  by  the Government  as  per  the  Central  Government  Health  Scheme  rates.Wild animalsinjured in human animal conflict are examined by veterinary doctors and  if  found  unfit  for  release  in  wild,  are  sent  to  rescue  centres  of  Zoo Authority of Karnataka.

The details of human-animal conflict incidents and ex gratia paid during the last three years and current year in state of Karnataka is at Annexure .

- (f) The  steps  taken  by  Government  of  India  to  manage  and  mitigate  humananimal conflict in the country include:
- i. The  Ministry  has  issued  an  Advisory  to  deal  with  Human  wildlife

conflict to States/UTs on 06.02.2021.

- ii. The  Ministry  provides  financial  assistance  to  States/UTs  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.  The  broad  activities  supported  under  these schemes include habitat enrichment, water augmentation.
- iii. Funds  are  also  allocated  for  construction  /erection  of  physical  barriers such as solar powered electric fence, bio-fencing using cactus, boundary walls, animal proof trenches around forests etc.
- iv. The  financial  support  to  the  States/UTs  also  includes  a  component  of compensation due to damage by wild animals.
- v. Voluntary  relocation  of  villages  from  the  core  area  of  Tiger  Reserves, National Parks and Sanctuaries are also being funded under the Centrally Sponsored  Scheme:  'Integrated  Development  of  Wildlife  Habitats'  as proposed by the State Governments for avoiding conflict.
- 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.
- vii. Directions  have  been  sent  to  all  States/Union  Territories  for  use  of undergrounding of cables upto 33 KV of electricity cables in forest areas and also maintaining transmission lines to avoid sagging.
- viii. Government of India has issued Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs)/guidelines  to  manage  Human-Tiger/Human-Leopard  /HumanElephant conflict.
- ix. The Ministry, in the year 2018, has increased ex-gratia relief under the Centrally Sponsored Scheme in case of depredation by wild animals.
- x. Under the revamped operational guidelines of Pradhan MantriFasalBimaYojna  (PMFBY),  issued  by  the  Government  of  India (effective  from  the  year  2020),  States  can  provide  add-on  coverage  for crop loss due to attack by wild animals.
- xi. To mitigate human wildlife conflict along linear infrastructures like rail tracks, roads/highways and power transmission lines passing through the Protected Areas and other wildlife rich areas, the Standing Committee of the National Board  for Wildlife has recommended  that  all linear infrastructure development agencies should submit animal passage plans based on the guidelines prepared by Wildlife Institute of India.
- xii. The Ministry has approved a project for undertaking immunocontraceptive measures for population management of wild animals.

## ANNEXURE REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PART (d)and (e) OF THE  LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4003 DUE FOR REPLY ON 19.03.2021 REGARDING 'HUMAN-ANIMAL CONFLICT IN KARNATAKA' RAISED BY SHRI PRAJWAL REVANNA

## Details of human-animal conflict incidents and ex gratia paid in the state of Karnataka

(as informed by Government of Karnataka)

## (Rs. in Lakhs)

| Year    | Crop damage     | Crop damage   | Cattle kill     | Cattle kill   | Human injury    | Human injury   | Permanent disability   | Permanent disability   | Human death     | Human death   | Property damage   | Property damage   |
|---------|-----------------|---------------|-----------------|---------------|-----------------|----------------|------------------------|------------------------|-----------------|---------------|-------------------|-------------------|
|         | Number of cases | Amount        | Number of cases | Amount        | Number of cases | Amount         | Number of cases        | Amount                 | Number of cases | Amount        | Number of cases   | Amount            |
| 2017-18 | 27525           | 1369.16       | 2862            | 206.47        | 204             | 67.75          | 04                     | 7.02                   | 35              | 222.81        | 159               | 7.46              |
| 2018-19 | 19913           | 1028.13       | 2637            | 199.53        | 144             | 59.35          | 03                     | 6.37                   | 26              | 127.97        | 96                | 5.94              |
| 2019-20 | 20951           | 1122.90       | 2149            | 173.17        | 122             | 48.75          | 4                      | 16.55                  | 50              | 272.50        | 203               | 12.35             |
| 2020-21 | 10316           | 620.85        | 1348            | 105.71        | 103             | 42.13          | 2                      | 11.47                  | 34              | 255.00        | 142               | 9.36              |