As many as 338 people have been killed in elephants’ attack and 10 killed in crocodile attacks in the State during the last four years since 2015-16, informed Forests and Environment Minister Bikram Keshari Arukh in the State Assembly here on Tuesday.
In response to a question of BJD MLA Angad Kanhar, the Minister also informed that elephants have damaged crops in 42,064.8 acres of l and during the period.
The Government provides compensation of Rs 10,000 for an acre of paddy damages and Rs 12,000 for per acre of cash crops damaged by pachyderms. In case of deaths of people in attack of elephants, the Government provides assistance of Rs 4 lakh to family of each deceased.
The Minister said as many as 331 elephants and 17 crocodiles have also died due to attack by people and other reasons during the period.
To a question of BJD MLA Prasant Behera, the Minister informed that out of total 12,448 sanctioned Group A to D posts, 5,705 were lying vacant in the Forests and Environment Department by June 1, 2019.
Efforts are on to fill up the vacant posts, informedArukh.