Lok Sabha Question No. 5759 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-03-30
Subject: Human-wildlife Conflict in Shirdi
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: Shri Bhausaheb Rajaram Wakchaure

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 5759

TO BE ANSWERED ON 30.03.2026

## Human-wildlife Conflict in Shirdi

## 5759. SHRI BHAUSAHEB RAJARAM WAKCHAURE:

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

- (a) whether  the  Government  has  drafted  any  long-term  policy  to  prevent  human-wildlife conflict in Shirdi Lok Sabha Constituency of Maharashtra and other such sensitive areas and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether the provisions, such as village-border security, technical surveillance, warning systems and deployment of field staff has been made under the said policy and if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether the Government proposes to initiate data collection and scientific studies based on the movement of wildlife in such areas;
- (d) the time by which this policy is likely to be implemented and the manner in which it is likely to be implemented in coordination with the State Governments; and
- (e) whether  the  policy  is  still  in  its  initial  stages  and  if  so,  the  steps  being  taken  by  the Government to expedite its implementation, keeping in view the safety of the public?

## ANSWER

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

- (a) to (e) Incidents of human-wildlife conflict have been reported from various parts of the country,  including  the  State  of  Maharashtra.  The  management  of  wildlife, including mitigation of human-wildlife conflict, is primarily the responsibility of the concerned State Governments and Union Territory Administrations.

Further, the important steps taken by the Government to address human-wildlife conflict include the following:

- i. The Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972 has been amended to accord statutory status to management plans of protected areas, mandating consultation with the concerned Gram Sabhas.
- ii. Section 11(1)(a) of the Act empowers the Chief Wild Life Warden of a State/UT to grant permits for hunting of animals specified in Schedule I, if such animals become dangerous to human life. Section 11(1)(b) of the Act empowers the Chief Wild Life Warden or any authorised officer to grant permits for hunting of wild animals specified in Schedule II, if such animals become dangerous to human life or property.
- iii. The Ministry has issued an advisory dated 6th February, 2021 on dealing with  human-wildlife  conflict,  and  guidelines  on  3rd  June,  2022  for management of such conflicts, including crop damage. These, inter alia, recommend coordinated inter-departmental action, identification of
4. conflict hotspots, adherence to Standard Operating Procedures, establishment  of  Rapid  Response  Teams,  and  constitution  of  State  and District-level committees for timely disbursement of ex-gratia relief.
- iv. In  addition,  species-specific  guidelines  were  issued  on  21.03.2023  for mitigation of human-wildlife conflicts involving elephant, gaur, leopard, snake, crocodile, rhesus macaque, wild pig, bear, blue bull and blackbuck, based on a harmonious coexistence approach. Guidelines on cross-cutting issues such as media engagement, occupational health and safety, crowd management,  and  management  of  health  emergencies  have  also  been issued.  A  Field  Manual  for  frontline  staff  on  human-elephant  conflict management, as well as guidelines on eco-friendly measures to mitigate impacts of linear infrastructure on wildlife, have also been released.
- v. The  Ministry  provides  financial  assistance to States/UTs  under  the Centrally  Sponsored  Schemes  'Development  of  Wildlife  Habitats'  and 'Project Tiger  and Elephant'  for wildlife  and  habitat  management. Supported activities include installation of early warning systems, creation of  physical  barriers  such  as  barbed  wire  fencing,  solar-powered  electric fencing, bio-fencing and boundary walls to prevent entry of wild animals into crop fields, payment of compensation for loss of human life, livestock, crops  and  property,  and  deployment  of  Rapid  Response  Teams.  The Ministry  also  supports  species  recovery  programmes  for  24  identified critically endangered species under the 'Development of Wildlife Habitats' scheme.
- vi. Advanced  technologies such as radio-collaring, digital sensor-based systems  and  e-surveillance  are  also  being  deployed  for  mitigation  of human-wildlife conflict.
- vii. The Ministry supports States in conducting awareness generation, training and capacity-building programmes. State Forest Departments engage with local communities through awareness campaigns and monitoring mechanisms to minimise conflict and prevent loss of human life, property and  wildlife.  An  initiative  has  also  been  taken  to  establish  a  Centre  of Excellence  for  Human-Wildlife  Conflict  Management  at  the  Salim  Ali Centre for Ornithology and Natural History (SACON), WII-South India Centre, Coimbatore.
- viii. Further,  the  National  Tiger  Conservation  Authority  (NTCA)  and  the Wildlife Institute of India have identified 32 major tiger corridors in the country in accordance with Section 38O(1)(g) of the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972, and issued guidelines and Standard Operating Procedures for tiger and habitat management. Similarly, 150 elephant corridors have been identified in 2023. Regional Action Plans are prepared in coordination with States/UTs  for  long-term  conservation  and  management  of  elephants  in contiguous landscapes.

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