Indian
Express: Coimbatore: Tuesday, 01 September 2015.
As many as
396 persons were killed in attacks by wild animals across forests in Tamil Nadu
in nine years since 2006. Out of the total deaths, nearly 83 per cent of lives
lost is in the western region. In other words, 330 persons died in western
region alone and 66 deaths were reported in the remaining forest areas.
The man-animal
conflict claimed 65 human lives in 2013-14 in Coimbatore forest which is the
highest reported in a single year. Twenty seven deaths were reported in 2006-07
which is the least nukber reported in a year. The information was revealed to
an RTI query filed by MDMK youth wing
leader Eswaran. Human deaths were reported in Chennai, Dindigul, Vellore,
Tiruchy, Madurai, Virudunagar, Tirunelveli, Villupuram, Dharmapuri, Salem,
Erode, Mudumalai and Anamalai Tiger Reserve forests.
Out of 360
deaths reported in western region, 156 occurred in Kovai region which consists of Coimbatore, Gudalur,
Nilgiris north and south forest divisions. Out of the 156, 91 human lives were
lost in Coimbatore, 38 in Gudalur, 24 in Niligirs North and three in south. As
many as 74 human deaths were reported in Erode district, 59 in Dharmapuri and
two in Salem. Similarly, 32 persons died in Anamalai Tiger Reserve (ATR) and
six deaths were reported in Mudumalai Tiger Reserve (MTR).
Further,
according to the RTI reply, the Forest department has distributed Rs 193.675
lakh as compensation for human deaths and property damages in 2014-15. “Out of
Rs 193.675 lakh, Rs 186.620 lakh was given as compensation for human deaths and
Rs 7.05 lakh for property damage. Compensation given in 2014-15 is the highest
since 2001-02.”
Officials
said human casualties due to man-animal conflict have come down in the last two
years in six forest ranges of Coimbatore due to implementation of mitigation measures.
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