CHANDIGARH: The Punjab State Board for Wildlife Tuesday gave in principle approval for the payment of compensation to the farmers for damage caused to crops by the wild animals in the state.

A decision to this effect was taken at the second meeting of the Board under the chairmanship of Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal. It was decided to give relief @ Rs.4000 per acre to the owner of land where the damage to agriculture crops by the wild animals was full and non recoverable. In case of partial damage to crops, relief of the above said rates would be paid in proportion to the extent of damage assessed by the assessing officer. The agriculture crops would include all crops cultivated in the private lands including sugarcane, cash crops, medicinal herbs, horticulture, ornamental crops, fodder and non fodder crops. Apart from this, the board also approved the rules for the payment of relief in case of damage to crops by wild animals. As per estimates, nearly 2500 acre land was normally affected by the wild animals every year which entail a financial liability of Rs.1 crore.

The board also decided to declare Nangal Wetland as Nangal Wildlife Sanctuary to attract a large number of migratory birds. Recently, a group of Sarus crane was spotted in this area, in addition it was also the home of large number of resident wild mammalian fauna and avifauna species.

It was also decided in the meeting to make payment of relief for injury or loss of human life and cattle due to attack by carnivores in the state from the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund. The maximum limit of ex-gratia in an individual case would not exceed Rs.1 lac in case of loss of human life. In case of grievous injury an amount of Rs.20,000 would be paid for total permanent disablement resulting in disqualification to continue in any vocation and grievous hurt failing within section 320 of the Indian Penal Code. In case of minor injury the actual cost of treatment would be paid on production of medical bill certified by the government doctor not below the rank of Assistant Civil Surgeon. The financial assistance as relief for death of domestic cattle (which includes Buffalos, Bullocks, Bulls, Cows, Sheep, Goat and their young ones killed by a carnivore which include, panther would be paid relief determined as per the market value of the cattle killed as assessed by live-stock inspector or veterinary officer.

The Board also sanctioned Rs.10 lac for the study of biodiversity of Beas River and preparation of a comprehensive plan from World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF-India) that had earlier adopted Ganges River Dolphin as a species of special concern and initiated their conservation programme. It may be recalled that a small population of Dolphin had been discovered in Harike Lake and Beas river system recently. The Board also expressed its concern over the ever increasing level of pollution in the rivers and urged the Punjab Pollution Control Board to immediately take effective steps to control river pollution especially in Satluj and Beas due to untreated urban and industrial wastes and from agricultural fields with proved to be toxic to the dolphins.

The Board also approved for the setting up of Punjab Zoos Development Society to promote, support, assist and mobilize resources for management of the MC Zoological Park, Chhatbir and other Zoos/Dear Parks, to raise awareness for wildlife conservation. The Board would consist of 5 distinguished personalities associated with conservation of wildlife and 3 NGOs.

The Board also discussed the ways and means to adopt a policy for limited hunting of wild boars damaging crops of farmers in the state by issuing permits. Besides, the board also approved a grant of Rs.10 lac for the conservation of Sarus Crane in Shalla Pattan Wetland in Gurdaspur.

The Board also gave a nod to form a wildlife Rescue Helpline in each district in which training private people and NGOs having passion for wildlife would be included. Their addresses, telephone numbers would be advertised through press and printed pamphlets so that people approach them when needed. The board also approved a sum of Rs.10 lac for this purpose.

In order to replenish the existing lion safari in MC Zoological Park, Chhatbir, the board approved a grant of Rs.30 lac to procure a pair of Indian lions from either Junagarh Zoo or African and Asiatic lions so that it could be further bred in the zoo and put in the lion safari. Apart from these the board also decided to set up Vulture Restaurant for the conservation of vultures in Niari village of Dhar block and Narot Jaimal Singh Pathankot Tehsil in Gurdaspur district. Vulture restaurant would serve to increase the survival rate of young vultures. It was also decided to establish monkey rehabilitation center at Patiala for which a proposal for Rs.102.68 lac had been submitted to Central Zoo Authority for providing funds to establish a rescue center.

Prominent amongst others who were present in the meeting included Forest Minister Tikshan Sud, Principal Secretary Forest RC Nayyar, Principal Secretary to Chief Minister DS Guru, Principal Chief Conservator of Forest .BC Bala, Chief Wildlife Warden and Member Secretary of the Board RK Luna, Director Animal Husbandry BS Sidhu, Assistant Director Fisheries Gajinder Singh. Besides the members of the board including MLA Fazilka Mr.Surjit Kumar Jaiyani, MLA Sujanpur Dinesh Singh, Bishamber Dass, Rashpal Singh Thandi, Dr.Rajiv Bhandari, Dr.Sandeep Kumar Jain, Hanuman Bishnoi and Sanjiv Godara were also present in the meeting.

 http://www.punjabnewsline.com/content/view/17482/38/

Naresh Kadyan, Representative of the International Organization for Animal Protection - OIPA in India welcome all decisions and asked the Haryana Govt. to constitute similar Board in Haryana in the interest of animals.