Our Correspondent
Kohima | September 12
Nagaland Minister for Forest, Environment & Climate Change and Village Guards, CL John today informed that the department has been working to contain the human-animal conflict through a combination of short term and long- term measures.
He was replying to MLA Achumbemo Kikon at the ongoing state assembly session on the road map of the department to curb human-animal conflicts in Nagaland and steps taken by the department to address the menace of wild elephant under Bhandari Sub Division. The short-term measures include support to alternative livelihood activities, capacity building to deal with conflict and training the villagers on elephant repellant techniques, construction of elephant watch towers, compensation for damages and ex gratia for any human injury / killing etc.
The minister stated that awareness creation and generating sensitivity has been the key focus for the long-term management.
A study under the Kreditanstalt fur Wiederaufbau (KfW), German bank, sponsored by the Forest and Biodiversity Management in the Himalayas Project to determine the movement of the elephants in Wokha and adjoining areas is proposed to be undertaken by the Wildlife Institute of India for devising long a term plan, he stated.
In 2017, the government has also notified damage by wildlife as disaster under the State Disaster Management Act, thereby making loss from wildlife eligible for payment from the state disaster management fund.
The use of immuno- contraceptives to control population of elephants in conflict prone areas has been put on stay by the Supreme Court. The Ministry is trying to get the stay vacated. If permitted immuno-contraceptives can be a viable option in hilly areas like Nagaland to control population, when permitted.
About 130 Community Reserves (CR) have been notified in the state, which receive financial help from the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change for wildlife protection. This has helped increase habitat for wildlife in the state.
The Minister stated that the department is working to secure central funding for revival and management of elephant corridors with Assam, thus reviving connectivity with Assam and reducing pressure in Nagaland.
The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has also been working on preparation of a National Elephant Management Plan based on inputs from experts which will help in better management of conflict areas.
Steps taken in Bhandari area
The Minister also informed that various steps have been taken during last three years in Bhandari sub division to mitigate Human Elephant conflict.
They include organizing awareness creation and capacity building programs, and providing elephant repellant materials at Liphi, Alikhum, Mekokla, Monford school area, Baghty, Roni old, Roni New, Serika, Liolongchum, Bhandari, Yimza, Yanmhon Old, Ruchan and Hayiyan villages.
Ex gratia and financial assistance was alaos provided for the damages, construction of watch towers at Alikhum, Loilongchum, Liphi, Serika and Mekokla and assistance for alternate livelihood activities at Yanmhon Old, Koro new, Alikhum, Serika, Zuxshe, Yanmhon New, Mongpio, Liolongchum, Yimza, Liphi, Bhandari, Yimprasa, Yimpang, Ruchan and Hayiyan villages.
It also extended creation of Community Reserves at Chemekong, Changpang and Ruchan.
Two villages have been selected under the KfW (Kreditanstalt fur Wiederaufbau- a German Bank) sponsored project –Makharung and Mmhayan.
Ex-gratia for victims of wild elephants
When asked whether there is any policy for financial assistance or government jobs to the next of kin/family members of the victims of wild elephants, the Minister replied that there no policy to provide government job to such victims at present.
However, financial assistance/ex-gratia to the tune of Rs. 5 lakh is paid to the next kin family members of the victims of wild elephants in case of death as per the guidelines by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change. A sum of upto Rs, 50,000 is provided in case of injury.
More than 400 wild elephant in Wokha District
MLA Kikon, meanwhile, informed that there are more than 400 wild elephant in Wokha district at the moment, of which more than 200 are in his constituency.
He said that harvesting time is coming and the wild elephants are freely moving around the paddy fields.
Kikon said that the ex- gratia for victims and financial assistance for injury is very less, which should be enhanced.
The MLA reminded that he raised the issue of human- animal conflict in the last session of the State Assembly wherein the Chief Minister had assured to take up the matter with the department.
