The Principal Chief Conservator of forest (PCCF) cum Chief Wild life Warden Jharkhand lal Ratnakar Singh who headed a review meeting of tiger reserve Palamu, Birsa Zoological Park and other sanctuaries in the State on Saturday in Ranchi has agreed to send a proposal of a hike in ex gratia relief given to families of victims where death is caused by elephant to the State Government.
The PCCF cum chief wild life warden has agreed that the hike of ex gratia relief in the event of death by elephant be of five lakhs of rupees. The present ex gratia relief given to families of victims of elephant’s fury where death has occurred of any member of the family is just two lakhs and fifty thousand.
The Pioneer on November 4 published a story titled “Jumbo Fury : Victims’ kin cry for hike in ex gratia” wherein the rangers of the PTR in a meeting of Tiger Foundation held in Betla had quoted villagers and members of victim families who rued their luck that ex gratia relief to lightning victim family is four lakhs of rupees while for one who gets trampled down by elephant to death his/her dependants just get two lakhs and fifty thousand of rupees as ex gratia relief.
The PCCF cum chief wild life warden lal Ratnakar Singh took immediate note of this plea and in his Saturday review meeting asked the Field Director cum Chief Conservator of forest PTR MP Singh to prepare a proposal for a hike in ex gratia relief to be sent to the state government.
PTR field director M P Singh on being contacted in Ranchi on phone said ‘The PCCF cum Chief Wildlife Warden lal Ratnakar Singh found substance and merit in the demand for a hike in ex gratia relief from two lakhs fifty thousand to five lakhs in the event of death caused by elephant and accordingly a proposal for hike from 2.50 lakhs to 5 lakhs would be sent to the state government for its approval’.