In season of bullets, 145 die of bites

Dy Speaker: Amend laws friendlier to animals than human beings

MAN-ANIMAL CONFLICT

JAMMU: Who is dying by whose bullets and how adequately the family of the dead is to be compensated are being intensely debated by lawmakers in the Legislature since the beginning of session early this month. Meanwhile, the Upper House was today provided a list of people who died of bites and not bullets. Since the question was unstarred, there was no discussion and hence no response from the government.
However, in the Lower House, Gulabgarh MLA Mumtaz Khan raised the issue during discussion on Budget, following which the Deputy Speaker (in Chair) Nazir Ahmad Gurezi asked the government to come up with the necessary amendments in the Wildlife Act and amend the laws which are friendlier towards animals than human beings
"A total of 145 people were killed during the last 5 years in the Man-Animal conflict and about 1,648 people received injuries during the last 6 years from 2011 to 2016 upto November, 2016. Out of this 93 people were killed and 1,363 received injuries during these 6 years upto November 2016 in Kashmir region while 52 people were killed and 285 received injuries in Jammu region," said the government in a written reply submitted in the Legislative Council to un-starred question raised by MLC Vibodh Gupta. Gupta had sought information regarding current status of man animal conflict in the state and region-wise detail and cases of attacks by wildlife on humans and live stock reported in various forest divisions and the region-wise details for the last 5 years.
In the reply, Minister for Forest said that 15 people were killed in man-animal conflict in the state in 2016 till November 2016 out of which 5 people died and 42 were injured in Kashmir region, while 10 died and 17 were injured in Jammu region.
In 2011-12, 28 people died and 315 were injured in Kashmir while 7 died and 42 received injuries in Jammu region.
In 2012-13, 11 people died and 259 people were injured in Kashmir whereas 5 died and 55 were injured in Jammu region. The following year 2013-14, saw 28 deaths and 333 people being injured in Kashmir while 8 died and 68 received injuries in Jammu. In 2014-15, 11 people died and 189 people were injured in Kashmir while 6 people died and 43 were injured in Jammu.
During 2015-16, 10 people died and 225 were injured in Kashmir region while 16 died and 60 received injuries in Jammu in man-animal conflict.
In the last 10 years about 35 people were killed and 213 were injured in Rajouri and Poonch districts and about Rs 38.30 lakhs was given in compensation to the deceased and Rs 21.18 lakhs to the injured.
However, no compensation is given for livestock losses due to non-availability of required policy as such no data of cases of attacks by wild animals on livestock was maintained by the department.
Replying to further query about steps taken by the Forest and Wildlife Department to control man-animal conflict and whether there was any road map to control the growing problem, the reply stated that the department has launched awareness programme. An appeal have been issued to masses, particularly the people residing in areas prone to attacks by wild animals and a detailed advisory has been issued telling people the dos and don'ts like not to move alone but in groups in forest area, especially children and women who are more vulnerable to leopard, bear attacks, carry sticks, always take regular forest paths and avoid shortcuts, etc.
Moreover, the department has set up 16 control rooms in Jammu Province.
Further to control the growing problem of human wildlife conflict, formulation of a roadmap is under process, the reply said.