SRINAGAR: The Jammu and Kashmir government has decided to increase the compensation for the victims of man-animal conflict that has witnessed an increase in the state during the past few years.
Compensation to those killed in man-animal conflict would be enhanced to Rs 3 lakh while Rs 1.5 lakh would be paid to those injured in such incidents, Minister for Forests, Ecology and Environment, Mian Altaf Ahmad said.
He has directed authorities of Wildlife Department to come up with a proposal to this effect for seeking approval from State Board for Wildlife, headed by the Chief Minister, officials said here today.
The Centre has already enhanced this compensation to Rs 2 lakhs, he said. The Minister was reviewing the status of the incidents of man-animal conflict occurred in the State so far during this year.
The Minister said that enhancement of compensation has become imperative in view of the compensation enhanced in other accidents.
Mian Altaf directed concerned officers to ensure provision of compensation to those killed within four days and to those injured within a week after getting the medical report.
‘Where we take measures for protection of wildlife there we must be extra cautious about the safety of the lives of the people’ said the Minister and directed officers of Wildlife Department to take necessary steps for ensuring protection of people living near jungles.
He asked them to take assistance from district administration and Forest Protection Force in the event when wild animals turn man eater. It was given out that Rs 9 lakh, as compensation, have been provided to nine families out of 10 deaths having taken place so far during this year apart from the compensation paid to 70 persons injured in such incidents at different places.
The meeting was told that the Department is proposing to introduce power fencing to contain the movement of wild animals. The meeting was informed that 20 trained hunters have been pressed into service for elimination of the wild wolves, who killed some people in Kreeri village of district Barmaulla.
Three wolves have been eliminated so far in the combing operation and there is no report of any incident in the area for past twenty days, it was added.
