Lok Sabha Question No. 655 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-07-24
Subject: Death due to Wild Elephant Attack
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. 655

TO BE ANSWERED ON 24.07.2023

## Death due to Wild Elephant Attack

## 655. SHRI PRAJWAL REVANNA:

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

- (a) whether the Government is aware of public outrage towards increasing number of deaths due to wild elephant attack on villagers in Sakakeshpura, Alur, Belur talukas of Hassan Lok Sabha Constituency, Karnataka;
- (b) if so, the details of deaths occurred due to wild elephant attack along with the details of compensation paid to the affected families;
- (c) whether the Government has any permanent solution to the elephant menace and if so, the details thereof;
- (d) the details of action taken by the forest department to install rope barricades, solar fences, digging trenches along with the funds spent for the purpose during the last three years; and
- (e) whether  the  Government  has  provided  adequate  permanent  front  line  staff  like  forest guards, watchers and rapid response teams, anti depredation camps to the area affected with elephant menace?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

(SHRI ASHWINI KUMAR CHOUBEY)

- (a)&(b)  As per the information received from State of Karnataka, the details of human deaths occurred  due  to  elephant  attack  alongwith  the  details  of  compensation  paid,  in Sakleshpura, Alur, Belur talukas of Hassan Lok Sabha constituency are as follows:
- (c)to(e)  The management of wildlife including mitigation and management of human-elephant conflict (HEC) is primarily the responsibility of State Governments/UTs Administration.    The  state  forest  departments  are  working  with  the  local  people  to address the HEC issues through periodic awareness campaigns to sensitize, guide and advise  the  general  public  on  human-animal  conflict,  including  dissemination  of information  through  various  forms  of  media.    Further,  Forest  Departments  are engaging  with  local  communities  as  animal  trackers  to  monitor  the  movement  of elephants  and  also  to  caution  local  people  to  avoid  human-animal  conflict,  prevent damage or loss of human life and elephants.

| District, State                                                             | Year    |   No. of human deaths |   Compensation paid (Rs. In Lakhs) |
|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------|---------|-----------------------|------------------------------------|
| Sakleshpura, Alur, Belur taluks of Hassan Lok Sabha Constituency, Karnataka | 2018-19 |                     1 |                                5   |
| Sakleshpura, Alur, Belur taluks of Hassan Lok Sabha Constituency, Karnataka | 2019-20 |                     3 |                               15   |
| Sakleshpura, Alur, Belur taluks of Hassan Lok Sabha Constituency, Karnataka | 2020-21 |                     5 |                               37.5 |
| Sakleshpura, Alur, Belur taluks of Hassan Lok Sabha Constituency, Karnataka | 2021-22 |                     5 |                               37.5 |
| Sakleshpura, Alur, Belur taluks of Hassan Lok Sabha Constituency, Karnataka | 2022-23 |                     4 |                               30   |

The  Government  of  Karnataka  has  taken  following  measure  for  prevention  of human deaths due to elephant attacks:

- (i) Districts Elephant Task Force constituted in the Hassan District with headquarters at Sakaleshapura on 20.11.2022.
- (ii) Elephant  task  force  is  headed  by  DCF  along  with      01  ACF,  01  RFO,  04  Dy RFO, 08 Forest Guard & 32 out Sourced Watchers.
- (iii) In addition  to  the  permanent  frontline  staff,  non-permanent  watchers  are deployed as Anti-Depredation Camps (ADC) and Rapid Response Teams (RRT) whose details are given below:
- (iv) Elephant  task  force  has  Control  Room  functioning  24x7  at  Sakaleshpura  & complaints  are  received  from  Alur,  Belur,  Sakleshpura  &  Yeslur  range  and immediate action is being taken for its redressal. Record are being maintained regarding the calls received & action taken.
- (v) Elephant  task  force  is  monitoring  the  movement  of  Wild  Elephants  in  village limits  and  driving  them  back  to  the  forests,  wherever  the  wild  elephant's movement is seen in village limits.
- (vi) Along  with  Elephant  Task  Force  staff,  Rapid  Response  Team  (RRT)  regular front line staff is working to safe guard people and property.
- (vii) There  are  5  Rapid  Response  Teams  (RRT)  and  22  Anti  Depredation  Camps (ADC) established for immediate response.
- (viii) Advance warning system is established by sending SMS, Whatsapp messages, mike announcement etc. to make villages aware about Elephant movement.
- (ix) By using  used  railway  tracks,  Rails  Barricades  have  been  constructed  in  Alur range,  Doddabetta  Forest  region  to  prevent  the  entry  of  Elephants  from  other districts using the State Government funds.  The details of rail barricade which is constructed are given below:
- a. During 2020-21 -  4.511 Kms,
- b. During 2021-22, 5.148 Kms work is completed,
- c. this year 2022-23, 11.147 Kms work is in progress.
- (x) 45 Elephants have been captured and relocated since 2001-02 and 4 Elephants have been Radio collared in last 3 years.
- (xi) To secure and protect the agricultural crops Government of Karnataka provides subsidy for construction of solar power fences under which 50 percent subsidy is provided to framers for protection of crops.
- (xii) Awareness program is conducted in public areas, schools & colleges.

| RRT   | 5 Teams   | 20 Watchers   |
|-------|-----------|---------------|
| ADC   | 22 Teams  | 88 Watchers   |
| Total | 27 Teams  | 108 Watchers  |

In  addition,  the  following  measures  have  been  taken  by  Ministry  also  help  in mitigation of human-elephant conflict: -

- (i) The Ministry provides financial and technical assistance to States/UTs under the Centrally  Sponsored  Schemes  'Project  Tiger  and  Elephant'  for  protection  and conservation of species and their habitats in the country.
- (ii) To reduce human-elephant conflict and to avoid retaliatory killing of elephants. Compensation is provided to local communities for loss of their property and life caused  by  wild  elephants.  The  Ministry  has  notified  enhancement  of  ex-gratia rates related to wildlife depredation vide letter No. 14-2/2011 WL-I (part) dated 9th February, 2018.
- (iii) Various other Centrally Sponsored schemes being implemented by this Ministry contribute to the improvement in the natural habitat of elephants by augmenting water  sources,  planting  of  fodder  trees,  regeneration  of  bamboo  etc.    The Compensatory Afforestation Fund Act 2016 and the Rules made there under also provide for use of the Fund for development of wildlife habitats, including for elephants, establishment of animal rescue centres, etc. which also contribute to reduction in HEC.
- (iv) A guideline for Management of Human Elephant Conflict has been issued by the Ministry  on  6.10.2017  and  elephant  range  states  have  been  requested  for implementation of the same.
- (v) An  advisory  on  dealing  with  human-wildlife  conflict  has  been  issued  by  the Ministry in February 2021. The advisory recommends coordinated interdepartmental  action,  identification of conflict hot spots,  adherence  to Standard Operating Procedures, establishment of rapid response teams, formation of State and District level committees to review  the quantum of exgratia relief, issuing guidance/instructions for expedited payments, and provision of  adequate  funds  for  suitable  portion  of  ex-gratia  relief  to  be  paid  within  24 hours to the affected persons in the case of death and injury to persons.
- (vi) 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,  including  electric transmission lines, in a manner that reduces human-animal conflicts.
- (vii) The  Ministry  has  released  a  book  titled  'Best  Practices  of  Human  Elephant Conflict Management in India' for the benefit of States and other stakeholders.
- (viii) A  field  manual  for  frontline  staff  to  manage  Human  Elephant  Conflict  was released during the 16 th meeting of the Steering Committee on 29 th April, 2022.
- (ix) The Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972 provides regulatory functions for dealing with human wildlife conflict situations.
- (x) Regional  coordination  meeting  for  the  Eastern  Region  to  address  HumanElephant Conflict was conducted on 19 th January, 2023 at Kolkata.

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