Lok Sabha Question No. 2165 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-12-09
Subject: Monkey Menace in Telangana
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: Shri Konda Vishweshwar Reddy

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2165

TO BE ANSWERED ON 09.12.2024

## Monkey Menace in Telangana

## 2165.   SHRI KONDA VISHWESHWAR REDDY:

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

- (a) the specific measures being implemented to address the growing menace of monkeys, particularly in the State of Telangana, where it is causing significant losses to farmers and impacting agricultural productivity; and
- (b) whether the Government has allocated dedicated funding to support State Governments in implementing effective control and mitigation measures for this issue and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER  OF  STATE  IN  THE  MINISTRY  OF  ENVIRONMENT,  FOREST  AND CLIMATE CHANGE (SHRI KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH)

- (a) and (b) The important steps taken for protection and conservation of wildlife including management  of  monkey  menace  across  the  country  including  Telangana include:
- i. 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.
- ii. Eco-Sensitive Zones (ESZs) have been notified around many National Parks and Sanctuaries under the provisions of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 to further strengthen conservation of wildlife.
- iii. The  Central  Government  provides  financial  assistance  to  State/Union Territory Governments under the Centrally Sponsored Schemes 'Development  of  Wildlife  Habitats'  and  'Project  Tiger  and  Elephant' for management of wildlife and its habitat in the country. The activities supported  under  the  scheme  include  construction/erection  of  physical barriers such as solar powered electric fence, bio-fencing using cactus, boundary walls etc. to prevent the entry of wild animals into crop fields.
- iv. Under  the  Centrally  Sponsored  schemes  -  'Development  of  Wildlife Habitats',  'Project  Tiger  and  Elephant',  financial  assistance  is  also provided  for  payment  of  ex-gratia  relief  for  loss  of  life  and  property caused by wild animals. The Ministry has enhanced the amount of ex-

gratia  relief  in  case  of  death  or  permanent  incapacitation  due  to  wild animal  attacks  during  December  2023.  At  present  the  amount  of  exgratia relief payable under these schemes is as follows:

| Sl.   | Nature of damage caused by wild animals   | Amount of ex-gratia relief                                           |
|-------|-------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------|
| i.    | Death or permanent incapacitation         | Rs.10.00 lakh                                                        |
| ii.   | Grievous injury                           | Rs.2.00 lakh                                                         |
| iii.  | Minor injury                              | Cost of treatment up to Rs.25,000/-per person                        |
| iv.   | Loss of property/crops                    | State/UT government may adhere to the cost norms prescribed by them. |

- 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 ex-gratia relief, issuing guidance/instructions for expedited payments, and provision of adequate funds for suitable portion of exgratia  relief  to  be  paid  within  24  hours  to  the  affected  persons  in  the case of death and injury to persons.
- vi. The  Ministry  of  Environment,  Forest  and  Climate  Change  has  also issued Guidelines to States/UTs on 3 rd  June, 2022 on managing Human Wildlife  conflict  including  damage  to  crops.  It  includes  promotion  of crops in forest fringe areas which are unpalatable to wild animals, agro forestry  models  which  include  cash  crops  like  chillies,  lemon  grass, khus grass etc. suitably mixed with tree/shrub species. It also includes preparation  and  implementation  of  comprehensive  long-term  plan  for alternate  cropping  by  the  state  Agriculture/Horticulture  Department under different schemes in vulnerable areas.
- vii. The Ministry has released species specific guidelines on 21.03.2023  for mitigation of Human -Elephant, -Gaur, -Leopard, -Snake, -Crocodile, Rhesus Macaque, -Wild Pig, -Bear, -Blue Bull and -Blackbuck Conflict as  well  as  Guidelines  for  cross  cutting  issues  such  as  cooperation between the forest and media sector in India; occupational health and safety  in  the  context  of  human-wildlife  conflict  mitigation; crowd management in human-wildlife conflict related situations and addressing health emergencies and potential health risks arising out of human-wildlife conflict situations.
- viii. The Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972 provides regulatory functions for dealing with human wildlife conflict situations.