The Rajasthan government, under Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma, will raise compensation to Rs 10 lakh for families affected by human-wildlife conflicts, as revealed by Minister of State for Forests and Environment (Independent Charge), Sanjay Sharma. This decision aims to address the loss of lives in such conflicts. Additionally, residents in villages within the Karauli Tiger Reserve Sanctuary will not face forced displacement.
Necessary amendments are being made to the existing rules to implement the increased compensation, which currently stands at Rs 5 lakh for wildlife attack victims. Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma’s approval of the higher assistance demonstrates a compassionate approach towards these incidents.
In response to queries during Question Hour, Minister Sharma clarified that villagers cultivating barren land within the reserve area are not eligible for compensation under current departmental regulations. He also highlighted the formation of a committee to identify the Critical Tiger Habitat (CTH) in the Dholpur-Karauli region, following directives from the Supreme Court.
The committee’s findings were submitted to the apex court, leading to the official notification of the CTH. Minister Sharma updated the House on a recent incident in the Sariska Tiger Reserve, Alwar, where a tigress succumbed to injuries sustained in a confrontation with another tigress. The deceased tigress underwent a post-mortem examination and was cremated respectfully.
Regarding voluntary relocation of villages from the Critical Tiger Habitat in Dholpur-Karauli, Minister Sharma confirmed that the process has not commenced. Any future voluntary displacement within the Karauli Tiger Reserve, covering parts of the Bari Assembly constituency, will adhere strictly to state government guidelines and norms set by the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) on specific dates.
