Bhubaneswar: The state government Tuesday said that it will provide compensation to villages volunteering to relocate in the interest of protection of wildlife.
“I am happy to announce that the state government will provide compensation to villages to relocate in the interest of protection of wildlife,” said Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on the occasion of 62nd state-level celebration of the wildlife week.
The move is significant in the wake of increasing human-animal conflict in the state.
The state has witnessed a sharp increase in human-animal conflict. Several reports of human-elephant and human-crocodile conflicts have been reported in the past one decade.
In the last 10 years (as of 2015) a total 685 jumbos have lost their lives while 660 people were killed by marauding pachyderms.
Patnaik said the compensation will be made available to villages in all 19 sanctuaries of the state and buffer zones of tiger reserves. The rate of compensation will be at par with the central scheme which is meant only for the core area of tiger reserves and will be met out of state’s own funds.
Stating fulfilling the requirements of forest and fringe dwellers is at the core of successful conservation, he said, “They must be provided with necessary infrastructure and facilities like good roads, drinking water, sanitation, health, education, vocational training, homestead land and pucca houses among others.”
He said locals and villages in the vicinity of protected areas have a special role in wildlife conservation and they should be encouraged to participate in this process.
The Chief Minister also expressed satisfaction that the recent census figures have shown an increase in the population of several wild animals.
“Our sustained efforts have yielded satisfactory results for salt water crocodile, black bucks, elephants, migratory birds and dolphins. The number of olive ridley turtles visiting the Orissa coast for nesting has also steadily grown,” Patnaik said. He asked officials to use modern technology and social media to further spread the message of wildlife conservation.
He also gave away the Biju Patnaik Award for Wildlife Conservation for 2015-16 to Gourang Charan Rout. The award includes `2 lakh cash and a citation. Students participating in different competitions were also awarded.
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