A total of 63 people had died in different parts of Chhattisgarh after being attacked by wild animals including wild elephants during the past one year, Forest Minister Mahesh Gagda informed the Chhattisgarh Assembly on Wednesday.
The Minister while replying to a question raised by Congress member Amarjeet Bhagat during the Question Hour informed that 63 people lost their life in conflict with wild elephants and other wildlife in the State during year 2014-15.
Bhagat sought information from the Minister about various steps being taken to control the wild elephant problem in various districts of northern Chhattisgarh.
Gagda replied said that the Forest Department has been making extensive efforts to check the wild elephant menace in the region. Public awareness campaign are being run, training is being conducted for villagers to deal with wild elephant along with several others.
Bhagat further stated that "the tribals and villagers in northern part of the State bore the brunt of elephant attacks during the past several years. What concrete action will be taken by the government in this regard, he questioned.
The Minister replied that the Forest Department has been making all efforts to overcome the situation and if the local public representatives could give their suggestions on the issue, they are welcome to share those ideas for its implementation.
He informed that the State government provides compensation for damaged crops as per rules and Rs 40,000 has been fixed for crop damage in one hectare of land.
“The government provides compensation to minimum 33 per cent of crop damaged which earlier was 50 per cent,” he said. Gagda said that the State government had distributed Rs 5.78 crore during the last financial year and has provisioned Rs 8.78 crore for fiscal 2015-16.
In a written reply to a separate question raised by leader of Opposition TS Singhdeo, the Minister informed that Rs 7.02 crore were approved between 2013-14 and 2014-15 for installing solar fencing in areas visited by wild elephants.