Bhubaneswar: The state government has decided to increase the compensation amount from Rs 3 lakh to Rs 4 lakh for deaths due to attacks from wild animals, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik said while addressing the Wildlife Week function here Saturday.
Apart from increasing the compensation amount to the kin of victims of wildlife attacks, the Forest department announced several other key decisions in the function.
Earlier, there was no provision for giving compensation to those who lost sheep by wild animal attack. But, recently, thousands of sheep were allegedly killed in wildlife attack in Niali, Jagatsinghpur and other parts of the state and lack of compensation for sheep deaths created anguish among the people.
Aggrieved people even gheraoed forest officials demanding compensation.
Forest department sources said the government has decided to include compensation for sheep after considering the Niali incident. The top official admitted that the decision was made after considering the suspected attacks on sheep by wild animals.
“The government has decided to give compensation in case of deaths of sheep and goats for the first time in view of the loss due to the recent attack by jackals,” said additional chief secretary, Suresh Mohapatra.
“The government has decided to increase the compensation money for deaths of sheep and goats to `2,000 and lamb to `750 due to wild animal attacks,” forest and Environment Minister Bijayashree Routray said.
The Chief Minister said conservational measures taken by the department have increased the number of wildlife and more such measures are being taken for ensuring the safety people staying in remote villages.
“The number of Olive Ridley turtles visiting the state for nesting has steadfastly grown from 7.24 lakh in 2010-11 to 9.75 lakh in 2016 -17. Similarly, the arrival of migratory birds has increased from 8.58 lakh in 2010-11 to 10.79 lakh in 2016-17. The tiger population has also reached 40 which was 32 in 2011-2012 due to conservational measures. This apart, the government is committed itself to ensuring better livelihood for those staying in remote villages and has brought relocation packages for these villages. A payment of `10 lakh is also made to each family,” Patnaik said.
The Chief Minister presented the Biju Patnaik Award for Wildlife Conservation to Chakradhar Hembram. Hembram was give `2 lakh for his contributions to wildlife. PNN
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