Rajya Sabha MP Parimal Nathwani today brought attention of Rajya Sabha on tusker menace in Jharkhand that has caused a loss to human lives and property. The Rajya Sabha MP sought information about steps being taken to reduce such attacks and also steps taken to control the human-animal conflict that happens quite frequently.
Nathwani sought information on development or restoration of ‘Migration Route’ undertaken by concerned ministry. It is believed that tusker menace is common in those areas which fall under a migrating group of elephant’s route.
Replying to the query of Nathwani, Minister of State for Tourism (Independent Charge) Shreepad Nayak stated that there is no proposal of development or restoration of ‘Migration Route’ of wild elephants pending with the Ministry of Environment & Forest (MOEF). According to experts elephant-human-conflict is the outcome of encroachment of conventional forest routes nearby villages by people living in those villages and also a threat posed to the habitats of the largest mammals.
Migration of these animals is a part of the process to get optimal diet needed for sustenance. Jharkhand has 11 wildlife sanctuaries and one national park notified under the Wild life Protection Act, 1972.
Nathwani asked the minister if there is any scheme of taming wild elephants and use them for tourism purposes. Denying any such proposal pending with them, the Minister informed him that under Centrally-sponsored Scheme ‘Project Elephant’ (CSS-PE) of MOEF, Financial Assistance is being provided to the State, inter-alia, to improve and restore elephant habitat in the State for making available sufficient food and water to wild elephants.