No end in sight to man-animal conflict

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Follow us:WhatsappFacebookTwitterTelegram.cls-1{fill:#4d4d4d;}.cls-2{fill:#fff;}Google NewsThe man-animal conflict in the wildlife sanctuaries in the state is likely to continue in spite of the lofty plans announced by the Centre to end it. The government had hiked the compensation for the families willing to relocate from the core and buffer areas of the sanctuaries, but there is no timely allotment of funds.Principal Conservator of Forests (Wildlife) Gopinathan said that even though many settlements are willing to relocate in Wayanad they are awaiting funds from the Centre.“We are presently engaged in relocating the families in Wayanad. There are some settlements in the Parambikulam sanctuary but none in the Periyar Tiger Reserve,’’ he said.“In the Wayanad wildlife sanctuary, a total of 14 settlements were ready to relocate in the forest ranges of Kurichiyat, Sulthan Bathery, Muthanga and Tholpatty. There were 800 families who were willing to relocate for which an amount of `80 crore is needed, but the Centre has sanctioned only `5.5 crore and the state government another `1 crore which is insufficient,’’ said senior scientist of the Kerala Forest Research Institute (KFRI) Dr Shankar who had conducted a socio-economic survey of the settlements in Wayanad who were willing to relocate for the Forest department.It is this report of the KFRI, accompanied by the passing of the resolution by the grama sabha for each settlement and an endorsement by tribal committees which was submitted to the Ministry of Environment and Forests.“Till now 34 families were paid Rs 3.40 crore in Goloor and 21 families Rs 2.10 crore in Ammavayal in Kurichiyat range and relocated.A total of 98 families which were to be paid Rs 9.80 crore and relocated from Kottangara in Sultan Bathery range were also paid partially,” said Dr Shankar.“The compensation amount was raised from Rs1 lakh to Rs 10 lakh in 2008. Under this scheme, a family could get between Rs 30 to 40 lakh as each adult (above 18 years) is treated as a separate unit,” Conservator of Forests (Eastern circle) O P Kaler said.There was also a second option where agriculture land is procured and a house is constructed for the family which agrees to relocate with the state govt having to provide additional funds if needed above the amount of Rs 10 lakh, Kaler added.first published:August 17, 2012, 12:11 ISTlast updated:August 17, 2012, 12:11 IST
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The man-animal conflict in the wildlife sanctuaries in the state is likely to continue in spite of the lofty plans announced by the Centre to end it. The government had hiked the compensation for the families willing to relocate from the core and buffer areas of the sanctuaries, but there is no timely allotment of funds.

Principal Conservator of Forests (Wildlife) Gopinathan said that even though many settlements are willing to relocate in Wayanad they are awaiting funds from the Centre.

“We are presently engaged in relocating the families in Wayanad. There are some settlements in the Parambikulam sanctuary but none in the Periyar Tiger Reserve,’’ he said.

“In the Wayanad wildlife sanctuary, a total of 14 settlements were ready to relocate in the forest ranges of Kurichiyat, Sulthan Bathery, Muthanga and Tholpatty. There were 800 families who were willing to relocate for which an amount of `80 crore is needed, but the Centre has sanctioned only `5.5 crore and the state government another `1 crore which is insufficient,’’ said senior scientist of the Kerala Forest Research Institute (KFRI) Dr Shankar who had conducted a socio-economic survey of the settlements in Wayanad who were willing to relocate for the Forest department.

It is this report of the KFRI, accompanied by the passing of the resolution by the grama sabha for each settlement and an endorsement by tribal committees which was submitted to the Ministry of Environment and Forests.

“Till now 34 families were paid Rs 3.40 crore in Goloor and 21 families Rs 2.10 crore in Ammavayal in Kurichiyat range and relocated.A total of 98 families which were to be paid Rs 9.80 crore and relocated from Kottangara in Sultan Bathery range were also paid partially,” said Dr Shankar.

“The compensation amount was raised from Rs1 lakh to Rs 10 lakh in 2008. Under this scheme, a family could get between Rs 30 to 40 lakh as each adult (above 18 years) is treated as a separate unit,” Conservator of Forests (Eastern circle) O P Kaler said.

There was also a second option where agriculture land is procured and a house is constructed for the family which agrees to relocate with the state govt having to provide additional funds if needed above the amount of Rs 10 lakh, Kaler added.