New Delhi (NVI): The government has approved the advisory for the management of Human-wildlife conflict (HWC) situation across the country, with coordinated and effective actions, the Ministry of Environment said.
The decision was taken by the Standing Committee of National Board of Wildlife (SC-NBWL) in its 60th meeting held on January 5.
According to the Environment Ministry statement, the advisory makes important prescriptions for the States and Union Territories (UTs) for dealing with Human-Wildlife conflict situations and seeks expedited inter-departmental coordinated and effective actions.
It envisages empowering gram panchayats in dealing with the problematic wild animals as per the section 11 (1) (b) of Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972, the statement added.
The key steps envisaged to reduce HWC includes utilising add-on coverage under the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojna (PMFBY) for crop compensation against crop damage due to HWC and augmenting fodder and water sources within the forest areas.
However, the payment of a portion of ex-gratia as interim relief within 24 hours of the incident to the victim or family.
The advisory also envisages prescribing inter-departmental committees at local or state level, adoption of early warning systems, creation of barriers, dedicated circle wise control rooms with toll free hotline numbers which could be operated on 24×7 basis, the ministry noted. Also, identification of hotspots and formulation and implementation of special plans for improved stall-fed farm animal etc.
During the meeting, the other important approvals also took place, which include Caracal, a medium size wild cat found in some parts of Rajasthan and Gujarat, into the list of critically endangered species for taking up conservation efforts with financial support under Centrally sponsored Scheme-Development of Wildlife Habitat.
Currently, there are 22 wildlife species under recovery programme for critically endangered species.
Furthermore, the standing committee also recommended the construction of causeway across Jampannavagu to Muthapur of Govindaraopet and between Jampannavagu to Motlagudem in Mulugu District of Telengana with certain mitigation measures
It also recommended the proposal for Tinaighat-Castlerock-Caranzol Railway doubling of South Western Railways, Karnataka with certain mitigation measures as advised by the Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun.
The other decisions taken were construction of a bridge and canal with an aim to augment the water supply and irrigation facilities in villages Madharwa, Jamdhara and Sugaon in Balrampur district of Uttar Pradesh under the National Saryu Nahar Pariyojna with certain mitigation measures.
Apart from this, the National Board for Wildlife (NBWL) is also constituted by the Central Government under Section 5 A of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 (WLPA), the statement said.
“NBWL committee considers proposals after a series of levels of scrutiny and have recommendations of the state chief wildlife warden, state government and the State Board for Wildlife,” it added.
