Union Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Mr. Bhupender Yadav, has revised compensation for those killed in human-wildlife conflict to Rs.10 lakh compared to the earlier compensation of Rs.5 lakh until last year
Union Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Mr. Bhupender Yadav, has revised compensation for those killed in human-wildlife conflict to Rs.10 lakh compared to the earlier compensation of Rs.5 lakh until last year. He also announced a number of interventions that the Centre will be making to address man-animal conflict in the southern region.
The Salim Ali Centre for Ornithology and Natural History (SACON), Coimbatore, which is currently under the Wildlife Institute of India (WII), will be developed as a Centre for handholding states like Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu on mitigation of human-wildlife conflicts, Mr. Yadav said.
According to him, all southern states need better cooperation, coordination, and collaboration on wildlife issues. The Centre will facilitate inter-state coordination meetings. The ministry will support capacity-building of frontline staff and other frontline departments for use of early warning systems, use of modern technology, equipment and modern tracking systems.
The Centre has sanctioned Rs.15.82 crore during the Fiscal Year 2023-24 under various schemes to the state of Kerala. Based on the annual plan of operations proposed by the state government, the Centre will consider funding support under the Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA) and other schemes for site-specific elephant-proof walls and other mitigation measures.
The minister, along with officials from the wildlife wing of MoEFCC, went to Wayanad to assess the situation following the death of one Ajeesh Joseph Panachiyil, who was allegedly trampled to death by an elephant on February 10, triggering tensions between citizens and the Kerala Forest authorities in the district. The tuskless male elephant was captured in Belur taluk of Hassan district on November 30, 2023, and translocated to the Bandipur forest area.
The Karnataka government last week announced Rs.15 lakh compensation to the family of the deceased after Congress leader Mr. Rahul Gandhi, who represents the Wayanad constituency in the Lok Sabha, visited the family on February 17.
