BHUBANESWAR: The Odisha Government on Saturday enhanced to Rs 4 lakh the ex gratia compensation for human deaths caused by wild animals in the state. It used to be Rs 3 lakh.
Last year, 85 persons were killed by wild animals in Odisha and the state government doled out Rs 2.45 crore towards compensation.
Chief minister Naveen Patnaik announced the enhancement at the 63rd state-level Wildlife Week Celebrations organised by the Wildlife Organisation. The chief minister also announced compensation for cattle kills by wild animals. Sheep and goats will be compensated at the rate of Rs 2,000 per head and lambs at Rs 750.
Over Rs 14 crore is spend annually by the state government to compensate for human deaths and injuries, cattle kills, house and crop damage by wild animals.
Last month, the Wildlife Wing introduced a revolving fund under which divisional forest officers are authorised to pay 10 per cent of the ex gratia to the legal heirs of the deceased within 24 hours to check law and order situations arising out of killings by elephants and other wild animals.
Under the scheme, eight divisions designated as highly prone to depredation are given an annual revolving fund of Rs 5 lakh each while 11 others, placed in medium-depredation category, have been allotted Rs 3 lakh to meet advance payments.
Naveen Patnaik said the government is committed to providing better livelihoods for people living in remote villages. Each family is paid Rs 10 lakh for relocation while infrastructure needs are also being taken up.
He said the National Tiger Conservation Authority has found the prey base in the Satkosia Tiger Reserve has improved, and a programme for relocation of tigers from reserves in central India to Satkosia is in the offing.
On the occasion, he presented the Biju Patnaik Award for Wildlife Conservation for 2016-17 to Chakradhar Hembram for his outstanding contribution.
Forest and environment minister Bijoyshree Routray, secretary Suresh Chandra Mohapatra, principal chief conservator of forests (wildlife) Sandeep Tripathy and additional PCCF (wildlife) H K Bisht also spoke.