Man-animal conflict: Kerala mulls Rs 10 lakh compensation

: Kerala government is planning to hike to Rs 10 lakh the compensation amount to families of those killed in wild animal attacks.
State Forest Minister K Raju informed the Assembly that the government is also actively considering the hike of the relief amount for those who become physically challenged due to wild animal attack and also those who suffered crop loss.
"At present, the relief amount for those who killed in the wild animal attack is Rs five lakh. The government is planning to hike it to Rs 10 lakh," he said.
The minister was replying to a Calling Attention Motion by Sunny Joseph (Congress) on the necessity to take steps to prevent attacks from wild animals on human life and property.

Similarly, the solatium given to the relatives of those who died of snakebite outside forests, also would be increased to Rs two lakh from the present Rs one lakh, he said.
An amount of Rs two lakh would be given to those, who suffered become disabled in the wild animal attacks, Raju said.

"The government is also considering a better relief amount for those who suffer crop loss which is Rs 75,000 at present," he said.
Necessary orders in this regard would be issued soon, he added.
Detailing various steps taken by the Forest Department to tackle the increasing man-animal conflicts and the intrusion of wild animals into human settlements, the minister said rapid response teams and people vigilance committees had been formed to address the issue.

An early warning system to alert local people about the intrusion of wild animals had been launched in 65 forest fringe inhabited areas across the state, he said.
As many as 1500 kms of solar fencing, 586 kms of trenches and 42 kms of bio-fencing had been erected in the state during the year 2016-17.
Elephant, tiger, leopard, monkey, wild boar and peacock were some of the species that caused havoc to people living in forest fringes, the minister added.