Lok Sabha Question No. 2242 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-12-09
Subject: Crop Damage due to Wild Animal Attacks
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: Shri Suresh Kumar Kashyap

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2242

TO BE ANSWERED ON 09.12.2024

## Crop Damage due to Wild Animal Attacks

## 2242.   SHRI SURESH KUMAR KASHYAP:

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

- (a) whether the Government has conducted any assessment of the losses caused to the crops of  farmers  by  the  wild  animals  in  the  State  of  Himachal  Pradesh  during  the  last  three years;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether  some  other  preventive  measures  have  also  been  taken  by  the  Government  to safeguard crops from wild animals; and
- (d) whether there is any scheme of the Government to capture such animals in large numbers and transfer them to protected forests?

## ANSWER

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

- (a) and (b) The  protection  and  management  of  wildlife,  including  human  wildlife conflict  management  is  primarily  the  responsibility  of  the  State/Union Territory Governments. Details of losses caused to the crops of farmers by the wild animals are not collated in the Ministry.
- (c) and (d) The important steps taken by Government for protection of wildlife and to safeguard crops from wild animals include the following:
- i. The  Centrally  Sponsored  Schemes  of  'Integrated  Development  of Wildlife Habitats', 'Project Tiger' and 'Project Elephant' for management  of  wildlife  and  its  habitats  in  the  country.  It  includes compensation for depredation by wild animals including cattle lifting, crop damage, loss of life and property.
- ii. The activities supported under the Schemes inter alia include construction /erection of physical barriers, such as barbed wire fence, solar powered electric fence, bio-fencing using cactus, boundary walls etc. to prevent the entry of wild animals into crop fields; improvement of  wildlife  habitat  of  wild  animals  by  augmenting  the  availability  of
- food  and  water  in  forest  areas  to  reduce  the  entry  of  animals  from forests to habitations and setting up of anti-depredation squads to drive away problematic animals. State Governments also provide relief from their own funds for damage to crops by wild animals.
- iii. 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  ex-gratia  relief  payable under  the  Centrally  Sponsored  Schemes  -  'Development  of  Wildlife Habitats', 'Project Tiger and Elephant' is as follows:
- iv. The  Wild  Life  (Protection)  Act  empowers  the  Chief  Wild  Life Warden  for  capture  and  translocation  of  wild  animals  to  alternate suitable habitats as part of scientific management of wildlife.

| 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. |

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