Lok Sabha Question No. 84 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-06-21
Subject: Human Wildlife Conflicts
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: Sudheer Gupta, Gajanan Chandrakant Kirtikar, Bidyut Baran Mahato

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

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 84

TO BE ANSWERED ON 21.06.2019

## Human Wildlife Conflicts

## 84. SHRI SUDHEER GUPTA:

SHRI GAJANAN KIRTIKAR: SHRI BIDYUT BARAN MAHATO:

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

- (a) whether there has been rise in human wildlife conflicts during each of the last three years and the current year and if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor;
- (b) whether the Government has received several representations to take steps towards mitigation of human wildlife conflicts and enhance the compensation amount for death/injuries damage to crops or property and if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether the Government has raised the compensation for death/permanent incapacitation due to human wildlife conflicts recently and if so, the details thereof;
- (d) the number of people killed/ permanently incapacitated in human wildlife conflicts and the amount of crops damaged along with the compensation paid during the said period; and
- (e) the other measures taken by the Government for safety in human settlements on the periphery of wildlife sanctuaries/National Parks?

## ANSWER

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

- (a) Incidence of human wildlife conflicts are reported in various parts of the country from time to time. However, as the management of forest and wildlife is the responsibility of  State  Governments,  State-wise  and  year-wise  data  of  such  incidents  are  not collated by the Ministry.
- (b) The  Government  has  received  representations  to  take  steps  towards  mitigation  of  human wildlife conflicts and enhanced the compensation amount for death/injuries damage to crops or property.
- (c) & (d) The Ministry has raised  the compensation  amount for  death/injuries/damage to crops or property 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 number of people killed/ permanently incapacitated in human wildlife conflicts and the amount of crops damaged along with the compensation paid during the said period are not collated by the Ministry. The management of such conflicts are handled by concern State/UT Governments.

- (e) The measures taken by the Government for safety in human settlements on the periphery of wildlife sanctuaries/National Parks are as follows:
- i. Ministry through its Centrally Sponsored Schemes (CSS) namely 'Project Tiger', 'Project Elephant' and 'Integrated Development  of  Wildlife Habitats (IDWH)' provides funds to States and UTs for carrying various activities  for  habitat  improvement  works  namely  restoration  of  natural water bodies, creation of artificial ponds, waterholes, augmenting food/fodder sources at various places within Protected Areas to minimize the human animal conflict.
- ii. 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.
- iii. 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.
- iv. The Ministry has approved a project for undertaking 'Immunocontraceptive measures' for population management of wild animals.
- v. The Ministry has issued guidelines in context of human-wildlife conflict to the Chief Wildlife Wardens of all the State Governments/Union Territory Administrations dated 24 th December, 2014 and 1 st June, 2015.
- vi. 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.
- vii. Periodic  awareness  campaigns  to  sensitize  guide  and  advise  the  general public  on  man-animal  conflict,  including  dissemination  of  information through various forms of media.

*****