Belagavi: The State Government has increased the compensation from Rs. 7.5 Lakh to Rs. 15 Lakh to the families of those who died in the wild elephant attack. Revenue Minister R. Ashoka said that elephant task forces have been formed in Chikkamagaluru, Hassan, Mysuru and Kodagu Districts.
The Revenue Minister was replying on behalf of the Chief Minister to a question by MLA Pranesh M. K. during the Legislative Council Session on Thursday December 22. In order to prevent wild elephants and other wild animals from coming out of the forest, the availability of water within the forest areas for wild animals has been increased by the construction of tanks in protected forests and rejuvenation of existing tanks, he said.
“Work has been taken up to construct barricades using solar fences, trenches and railway tracks at the edge of the forest to prevent wild elephants from coming out of the forest area. So far, 762 km sof elephant barrier trench, 1106 kms of solar power fencing, and 100 kms of railway track barricades have been constructed. In the current year, 150.95 kms of elephant trench, 285.88 kms of solar power fencing and 71.76 kms of railway barricade constructions are in progress. A total of 95 repulsion teams and 33 rapid response teams have been formed to repel the wild elephants. A 24-hour control room has been set up to collect information on wireless wild animals. The amount of compensation given for permanent disability caused by a wild animal has been increased from Rs. 5 to Rs.10 Lakh. The partial disability amount has been increased from Rs 2.5 Lakh to Rs 5 Lakh, while the compensation amount given to the injured has been increased from Rs. 30,000 to Rs. 60,000,” he informed.
He also informed the meeting that the amount of property loss has been increased from Rs. 10,000 to Rs. 20,000 and the monthly pension amount has been increased from Rs. 2,000 to Rs. 4,000 for a period of five years along with compensation to the family of the deceased.
