Lok Sabha Question No. 2030 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-11-29
Subject: Menace of Wild Animals
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: Baidyanath Prasad Mahto

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 2030

TO BE ANSWERED ON 29.11.2019.

## Menace of Wild Animals

## 2030. SHRI BAIDYANATH PRASAD MAHTO:

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

- (a) the details of the measures taken by the Government to control the menace of wild animals near forest areas leading to loss of life and property including damage to crops;
- (b) whether there is  any provision of compensation to the people for the losses incurred as a result thereof;
- (c) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor; and
- (d) the total number of people who have been granted compensation during the last three years including the current year, State/UT-wise?

## ANSWER

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

- (a) The Government has taken several steps to control the menace of wild animals near forest areas are as follows:
- i. The Ministry has issued guidelines in context of human-wildlife conflict to all  the  State  Governments/Union  Territory  Administrations  dated  24 th December, 2014 and 1 st June, 2015, wherein the States have been requested to take pro-active steps including exercise of powers under the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972 for mitigation of human-wildlife conflict and also to send proposals to this Ministry, to declare appropriate animals as vermin, specify the area of applicability and period thereof, after objective assessment of the situation  which could be helpful in management of such conflicts.
- ii. Under  the  Wild  Life  (Protection)  Act,  1972  there  are  provisions  to  deal with  problematic  wild  animals,  Section  11&  12  of  the  Act, inter-alia , empowers  the  Chief  Wildlife  Warden and  authorised  officers  to  take necessary steps to handle problematic wild animals.
- iii. Financial assistance is provided to the State/Union Territory Governments under  the  Centrally  Sponsored  Schemes  of  'Development  of  Wildlife Habitats', 'Project Tiger' and 'Project Elephant', to control the menace of wild  animals  near  forest  areas  including  damage  to  crops  which  include
- erecting  of  physical  barriers,  such  as  barbed  wire  fence,  solar  powered electric fence, bio-fencing using cactus, boundary wall etc.
- iv. Government has modified operational guidelines for Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojna (PMFBY) which has been implemented from 1 st of  October, 2018  which  includes  provision  of  Add  on  coverage  for  crop  loss  due  to attack of wild animals on pilot basis with the additional financial liabilities of  this  provision  to  be  borne  by  concerned  state  Govt.  Ministry  of Agriculture and Ministry  of Environment,  Forest and Climate change are making collaborative efforts in operationalization of this process.
- v. The Ministry has approved a pilot project on the immuno-contraception for controlling  the  population  of  wild  animals  responsible  for  damage  and destruction of crops, namely; elephant, wild boar, monkey, and nilgai.
- (b) to (d) The  provision  for  compensating  the  loss  of  farmer's  crop  damaged  by  wild animals  varies  from  State  to  State.  However,  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' and there is provision to payment of compensation for loss of life and property.  Further,  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. |

The details of the people for the losses incurred and the numbers of people have been granted compensations are not collated in the Ministry.

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