PIONEER EDGE NEWS SERVICE/Dehradun
The Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change (MoEFCC) is also undertaking various measures to mitigate human-wildlife conflict in the States. The Union minister for Environment, Forests and Climate Change Bhupender Yadav said this in response to a question asked in the Rajya Sabha by its member and Bharatiya Janata Party State president Mahendra Bhatt.
Bhatt had sought information from the ministry regarding the human-wildlife conflict in the State. The Union minister informed him that information is received from time to time regarding human-wildlife conflict from Uttarakhand and other parts of the nation. Bears, leopards and other wild animals are reported to be involved in such conflict scenarios. Yadav said that mitigating human-wildlife conflict and wildlife management is basically the responsibility of the State government which is also the first to take action in such situations.
However, the MoEFCC provides financial assistance to State governments and Union Territories for development of wildlife habitat and the tiger and elephant project. These facilitate procurement of early warning systems, fencing to prevent wild animals from raiding farms, solar powered electric fencing and walls, among other measures. Compensation is also provided for loss of life and property and other damage caused due to the conflict. Quick response teams are also deployed to mitigate human-wildlife conflict. In addition to this, the MoEFCC increased the ex-gratia for death caused by wild animals from Rs five lakh to Rs 10 lakh, the minister said.
