HC directs payment of damages to crops

The Madras High court has directed the forest department officials to pay for the damages of crops of farmers, caused by the wild animals, as per the assessment made by the Agriculture officer. Allowing a petition filed by a farmer S.Gurumoorthy, Justice T. Hariparanthaman of the Madurai bench said when a government official (Deputy Director of Agriculture) had assessed the quantum of damage to the crop and determined it, then the forest officials should provide the damage as per the assessment.
As per the Government Order, compensation should be paid at the enhanced rate of Rs.25,000 per acre or actual damage which ever was less.

The forest department was also promoting the awareness with public about the payment of compensation.
The petitioner lost groundnut crop in the field in March this year.
The Deputy Director of Agriculture, on the recommendation of the wildlife warden, assessed the damage at Rs.21,750/. But he was given only Rs.10,000. Similarly, in July, he lost black gram, green gram and black-eyed bean crop.The damage was assessed at Rs.15,014/ and Rs.12,480/. But he was given only Rs.5,000. The petitioner said he had given a representation to the Chief Conservator of Forests.
He sought the intervention of the court seeking a direction about the award of compensation as determined by the Deputy Agriculture officer of Ambasamudram.