Government hikes compensation amid elephant menace

RAIPUR - Amid rising cases of killings of forested residents by wild elephants, Chhattisgarh Tuesday increased the compensation amount for families in three worst man-elephant conflict districts.

“The amount has been increased to Rs.150,000 from Rs.100,000 to the family if a member is killed in elephant attacks in Jashpur, Koria and Surguja districts,” an official statement said.

It added that the government would soon release Rs.20 lakh to each district collector of the three districts to urgently provide compensation amount to affected families.

Chhattisgarh’s vast northern region, comprising Surguja, Jashpur, Koria, Korba and Raigarh districts, has recorded a sharp rise in man-elephant conflicts in recent months.

Officials said that in 2009 the government paid Rs.42 lakh as compensation to families who lost members in jumbo attacks.

The government said it was trying to find a permanent solution to the worsening situation.

An NGO has suggested setting up “elephant villages” to help keep wild elephants away from areas inhabited by civilians.