Lok Sabha Question No. 1062 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-02-07
Subject: Protection of Crops from Wild Animals
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: Annpurna Devi, Rama Devi

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

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1062 TO BE ANSWERED ON 07.02.2020

## Protection of Crops from Wild Animals

## 1062.   SHRIMATI  ANNPURRNA DEVI: SHRIMATI  RAMA DEVI:

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

- (a) whether the  Union Government has issued guidelines to the State Governments regarding protection of crops from wild animals;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether the respective State Governments have complied with the said guidelines;
- (d) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor; and
- (e)     the corrective measures taken by the Government in this regard?

## ANSWER

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

- (a) to (e) The Ministry of Environment,  Forest  and  Climate Change has  taken  a  number  of measures to mitigate human-wildlife conflict including the protection of crops from wild animals. Such measures include:
- i. 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  compensation  for depredation  by  wild  animals  and  construction  /erection  of  physical  barriers  to prevent entry of wild animals into crop fields.
- ii. Ministry has issued advisories dated 24 th December, 2014 and 1 st June, 2015 in the  context  of  human-wildlife  conflict  to  the  Chief  Wildlife  Wardens  of  all States/UTs.
- iii. Wildlife  Institute  of  India  in  consultation  with  the  Ministry  of  Environment Forest &  Climate Change, National Highway Authority, National Tiger Conservation  Authority  and  World  Bank  Group  has  published  a  document namely ' Eco-friendly Measures to Mitigate Impacts of Linear Infrastructure' to assist project agencies in designing linear infrastructure in a manner that reduces human-animal conflicts.
- iv. The  Ministry  has    increased    e x-gratia relief  eligible  for  assistance  under  the Centrally Sponsored Schemes in case of depredation by wild animals 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. |