Lok Sabha Question No. 1966 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-11-29
Subject: Man-Animal Conflicts
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: D.K. Suresh

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 1966.

TO BE ANSWERED ON 29.11.2019.

## Man-Animal Conflicts

## 1966. SHRI D.K. SURESH:

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

- (a) the total number of incidents of man-animal conflicts reported during the last three years and the current year in the country, State/UT-wise including Karnataka;
- (b) whether  the  Government  has  taken  various  preventive  measures  to  bring  down  the number of man-animal conflicts in the country;
- (c) if so, the details thereof;
- (d) whether the Government has made any provision for payment of compensation for the victims of man animal conflicts; and
- (e) if so, the details thereof and the number of victims who received compensation during the last three years?

## ANSWER

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

- (a) The management of forest and wildlife is the responsibility of concerned State/UT Governments and the details of man-animal conflicts in the country are not collated in the Ministry. However, as per information received from the state  government of Karnataka incidents of man-animal conflicts during the last three years are given below:
- (b) &(c) The Government has taken various steps to bring down the number of man-animal conflicts in the country are as follows:
- i. Ministry  through  its  Centrally  Sponsored  Schemes  (CSS)  namely  'Project Tiger',  'Project  Elephant'  and  'Development  of  Wildlife  Habitats  (DWH)'
- 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. 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.
- iii. 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.
- iv. The Ministry has approved a project for undertaking 'Immuno-contraceptive measures' for population management of wild animals.
- v. 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.
- vi. 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.
- 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.

|   S. No. | Year                    |   No of human death |   Permanent disability |   Injury |
|----------|-------------------------|---------------------|------------------------|----------|
|        1 | 2016-17                 |                  48 |                     05 |      130 |
|        2 | 2017-18                 |                  35 |                     04 |      204 |
|        3 | 2018-19                 |                  26 |                     03 |      144 |
|        4 | 2019-20 (upto Oct.2019) |                  23 |                     01 |       56 |

(d)&(e) There  is  provision  for  payment  of  compensation  for  the  victims  of  man-animal conflicts  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' for management of wildlife and its habitats. This assistance also includes compensation for depredation by wild animals including crop damage, 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 numbers of victims received compensations are not collated in the Ministry.