The state government has decided to increase the compensation provided in case of human death or serious injury caused by wild animals. In the meeting of the Uttarakhand state wildlife board chaired by chief minister Trivendra Singh Rawat here on Friday, the compensation for human death caused by wild animal has been increased from Rs 3,00,000 to Rs 5,00,000 while for the seriously injured, it has been increased from Rs 50,000 to Rs 2,00,000. The board also accorded its approval in principle to according land ownership rights to people slated to be relocated out of national parks and rehabilitated elsewhere. A proposal regarding this will be presented to the state cabinet.
The chief minister said that the participation of local community in forest management should be ensured as the cooperation of villagers is essential for protecting forests. Work should be undertaken on the concept of green tourism so that forest are protected and the local villagers can also secure livelihood. Permission was also granted for elephant safari in the buffer zone of Corbett national park and in the Ramnagar forest division. It was also decided that 100 per cent of revenue generated from tourism in Rajaji tiger reserve will be put in the fund of the Rajaji tiger reserve conservation foundation. Some of this will be used for community activities.
Rawat further said that the state wildlife board meeting held once a year should be held every six months. Along with the agenda a detailed report should also be presented in it. It was also decided that angling permits will not be given in buffer zones of tiger reserves and in reserved forest. The CM also directed that the police should also be informed about mountaineering teams accorded permit by the forest department to enable efficient rescue in case of emergency. The feasibility survey of the proposed Kandi Road by the Wildlife Institute of India was also presented in the board meeting.
Forest and wildlife Minister Harak Singh Rawat, MlAs DS Bisht, Suresh Rathore, chief secretary Utpal Kumar Singh and other members of the board were also present in the meeting.