T.N. govt. enhances compensation for various categories of human-wildlife conflict

The Tamil Nadu government has enhanced the rates of compensation for various categories of human-wildlife conflict occurring inside and outside protected areas and reserved forests.

A Government Order to this effect was issued by the Environment, Climate Change and Forest Department on Friday. According to the order, the compensation for major injuries or partial disability resulting in 20% to 60% incapacitation for humans, duly certified by the District Medical Officer or a constituted medical board, has been increased from ₹59,100 to a maximum of ₹5 lakh. For minor injuries, the compensation, which was not provided earlier, has now been fixed at a maximum of ₹20,000.

For crop damage, the earlier compensation of ₹25,000 per acre or the actual loss, whichever was less, has been increased to ₹40,000 per acre or the proportionate amount based on the actual damaged area assessed, whichever is less.

The compensation for damage to coconut trees has also been revised from the earlier flat rate of ₹500 per tree. It has now been fixed at ₹500 per tree for saplings up to one year old; ₹1,000 per tree for trees between one and four years; and ₹2,000 per tree for trees more than four years. For banana plants, the compensation, which was not provided earlier, has now been fixed at ₹250 per plant.

In the case of fully or severely damaged pucca houses, the compensation has been increased from ₹95,100 to ₹1.5 lakh per house or the actual damage assessed, whichever is less. For fully or severely damaged thatched or kutcha houses, the compensation has been increased to ₹15,000 per house. Earlier, the compensation was ₹10,000 for a fully damaged kutcha house and ₹5,000 for a severely damaged one.

For partially damaged pucca or kutcha or any other types of houses, the compensation has been increased from ₹5,200 to ₹10,000 per house or the actual damage assessed, whichever is less. In the case of milch cattle, the compensation has been increased from ₹30,000 to ₹40,000 per animal.