Bhubaneswar: As many as 369 persons were killed and 207 injured in wild elephant attacks in the last four years in the state, Forest and Environment Minister Bikram Keshari Arukha told Assembly Tuesday.
Replying to a question by Biju Janata Dal (BJD) legislator Mukesh Kumar Pal, Arukha informed the House that on an average 92 people were killed every year between January 2015 and June 2019.
The Forest department has erected stone walls and solar-powered fences in several sensitive places to deter the jumbos from coming to human habitations, Arukha said.
He also said that number of steps, including the development of habitations as well as digging of water bodies and plantation (as fodder) for safe habitation of these mammals in the state, have been taken.
Besides, several squads have been engaged to track the movement of the wild elephants and keep them away from the human habitations.
The department has also brought a special vehicle ‘Gaja’, which is used in driving away the elephant herd from village areas thus saving human lives.
The government has made provision to provide ex gratia of Rs 4 lakh in case of death of any person due to wild animal attack while compensation of Rs 10,000 and Rs 12,000 per acre is being paid for damage of paddy crop and cash crops respectively.
Not only human beings 331 jumbos have also died in state between 2015-16 and 2018-19, the minister said in another reply.
Out of the total deaths, nine elephants were killed by poachers while 119 died of various diseases while 23 natural deaths were reported during the period, he said, adding, the government does not know the reason behind the death of 48 elephants.
As many as 132 elephants died due to various accidents, 10 in train mishaps, one in road mishap and 53 in electrical accidents, the minister added.
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