Parliament Question: Human–Animal Conflict in Telangana

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 16 TO BE ANSWERED ON 20.07.2026 Human–Animal Conflict in Telangana *16. SHRI SURESH KUMAR SHETKAR:

Will the Minister of ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE be pleased to state:

(a) whether any Central financial assistance has been extended to Telangana for human-animal conflicts mitigation during the last three years and the current year, if so, the details thereof, year- wise and if not, the reasons therefor;

(b) whether the Government has assessed rising human–animal conflict incidents in Telangana, if so, the details thereof, district-wise and if not, the reasons for absence of comprehensive national monitoring mechanism;

(c) whether any steps have been taken under Centrally Sponsored Schemes to support Telangana in conflict mitigation, if so, the details thereof, scheme-wise and if not, the reasons for inadequate intervention;

(d) whether the Government provides financial assistance for compensation to victims of wildlife attacks in Telangana, if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons for leaving burden entirely on the State Government; and

(e) whether the Government has any data of the total compensation disbursed in Telangana for human deaths, injuries, livestock loss and crop damage, if so, the details thereof, category-wise and if not, the reasons for lack of consolidated data? ANSWER MINISTER FOR ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE (SHRI BHUPENDER YADAV)

(a) to (e) A statement is laid on the Table of the House. ****STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) to (e) OF THE LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. *16 REGARDING ‘HUMAN-ANIMAL CONFLICT IN TELANGANA’ BY SHRI SURESH KUMAR SHETKAR FOR REPLY ON 20.07.2026

(a): The management of wildlife including mitigation of human-animal conflicts is primarily the responsibility of the concerned State Government/Union Territory Administration. The State Government/UT Administration are the first responders to any conflict situation and they maintain the details of the conflict along with the species involved. Under the Centrally Sponsored Scheme of Integrated Development of Wildlife Habitats an amount of Rs. 323.32 lakhs, Rs. 291.68 lakhs, Rs.

302.34 lakhs and Rs. 208.67 lakhs have been released to the State of Telangana during the financial years 2023-24, 2024-25, 2025-26 & 2026-27 respectively for inter alia management of Human wildlife conflict.

(b) to (e): Under the said scheme, activities supported include procurement of early warning systems, construction and erection of physical barriers such as solar powered electric fencing, bio-fencing, trenches, boundary walls etc. to prevent depredation by wild animals which inter alia includes cattle lifting, crop damage, loss of life and property. Rapid Response Teams with community stewards are also deployed to mitigate Human-Wildlife Conflict.

The Government of India has assessed the status of human wildlife conflict across the country including Telangana especially in context of flagship species such as tigers and elephants wherein during the last decade no human deaths due to elephants and only 3 human deaths due to tiger attacks were reported by the State of Telangana. Further, granular data in respect of compensation and affected districts is collated at level of the State.

Important steps taken by the Government to manage human-wildlife conflicts include the following: i. Section 11 of the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972 adequately empowers the State Chief Wild Life Wardens to manage wildlife in conflict situations.

ii. The Ministry has issued advisories and guidelines to manage human-wildlife negative interactions through interdepartmental coordinated actions besides adherence to SOPs in this regard. Use of technological aids are used to strengthen these interventions.

iii. The Ministry has established a Centre of Excellence for Human–Wildlife Conflict Management at the Salim Ali Centre for Ornithology and Natural History (SACON), WII–South India Centre, Coimbatore, to strengthen the scientific and institutional framework for managing human– wildlife conflict.

Further, the Ministry has enhanced the amount of ex-gratia relief in case of death or permanent incapacitation due to wild animal attacks in December 2023 from Rs. 5 lakhs to 10 lakhs under these Schemes as per the directions in this regard which is supplemented through relevant schemes of the State Government. The details of amount of ex-gratia relief are given below:

S. Nature of damage Amount of ex-gratia relief No. caused by wild animals i. Death or permanent Rs.10.00 lakh incapacitation ii. Grievous injury Rs.2.00 lakh iii. Minor injury Cost of treatment up to Rs.25,000/- per personiv. Loss of property/crops State/UT Government may adhere to the cost norms prescribed by them.

The States/Union Territories make ex-gratia payments for loss of livestock, crops and human life including injuries due to human-wildlife conflicts as per the norms, which vary across States and UTs. ******