Parliament Question: Tiger Attacks in Shirdi Lok Sabha Constituency

OIH GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1312 TO BE ANSWERED ON 27.07.2026 Tiger Attacks in Shirdi Lok Sabha Constituency 1312. SHRI BHAUSAHEB RAJARAM WAKCHAURE: Will the Minister of ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE be pleased to state: (a) whether the Government is aware of the increasing incidents of tiger attacks and loss of life in sugarcane fields in Shirdi Parliamentary Constituency; (b) whether special permission has been granted under Section 11(1)(a) of the Wildlife Protection Act for capturing tigers declared as man-eaters; (c) whether central task force proposed to be sent in the affected areas for drone surveillance and setting up of an emergency alarm system; (d) whether there is any provision for providing special financial assistance and government jobs to the families of the victims; and (e) the special action plan that has been formulated for sugarcane cultivation areas in order to prevent human-wildlife conflict? ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE (SHRI KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH) (a) As reported by the State Government of Maharashtra, no incident of tiger attack or loss of human life due to tiger has taken place, neither any presence of tigers have been reported from the Shirdi Constituency. However, there have been reports of conflict related to leopard there in the said constituency, pre- dominantly in sugarcane fields and adjoining areas. During the year 2025-26, the details of human death and injuries reported due to attack by wild animals alongwith ex-gratia payment disbursed in the said constituency are as below: No. of human Compensation paid No. of human Compensation death in wild (Rs. in lakh) injuries in wild paid animal attack animal attack (Rs. in lakh) 6 150.00 30 22.88 (b) In light of the factual position as mentioned above, no such permission was ever required for tiger. However, permission to capture the leopards found to be dangerous for human life is given by the Chief Wildlife Warden of the State as per Section 11(1)(a) of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, as and when required. (c) There is no such proposal.(d) As reported by the State, there is no provision of Government jobs to the families of the victims as per Government policy. Ex-gratia assistance for human death, injury, livestock depredation and crop damage caused by wild animals is provided by the State Government as per ‘Maharashtra payment of compensation for loss, injury or damage caused by wild animals Act, 2023’. Besides, the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Government of India has enhanced the ex-gratia relief in case of death or permanent incapacitation due to wild animal attack, in December 2023, from Rs. 5 lakhs to Rs. 10 lakhs under the Centrally Sponsored Scheme of Integrated Development of Wildlife Habitats. The details are given as under:- S. Nature of damage caused by wild Amount of ex-gratia relief No. animals i. Death or permanent incapacitation Rs. 10.00 lakhs ii. Grievous injury Rs. 2.00 lakhs iii. Minor injury Cost of treatment up to Rs. 25,000/- per person iv. Loss of property / crops State / UT Government may adhere to the cost norms prescribed by them (e) As reported by the State, following special action plan has been formulated to prevent human- wildlife conflict in affected areas, inter alia, including those under sugarcane cultivation: (i) AI based alarm systems are installed in leopard prone areas. (ii) 14 rescue vehicles alongwith rescue equipments like thermal drones, night vision goggles, trap cages, dart guns, trap cameras, real time monitoring camera etc. have been procured for using the same in cases of conflict. (iii) Rapid rescue units in leopard prone areas are deployed by forest department. (iv) 24*7 patrolling by forest staff is done in village areas with probable wildlife movement, and continuous tracking of wildlife is done in the vicinity to avoid any conflict. (v) Movement of leopard is monitored using camera traps by forest staff. (vi) Public awareness exercises are undertaken in the area by traditional announcements (dawandi) as well as discussions with villagers in the presence of the Sarpanch and Police Patil, alongwith issuing safety instructions to the villagers. *****