Wild animal attack: Over Rs 7 cr paid to affected families

Over Rs 7 crore has been paid as compensation to the families affected by attack of wild animals in Chhattisgarh in the current financial year, state Forest Minister Mahesh Gagda said today .
The state government has distributed Rs 7,27,81,000 compensation to 9,581 families affected by the attack of wild animals in the first six months of the financial year 2015-16, Gagda said in a statement.
The compensation was mostly paid in the thick forested northern Chhattisgarh, consisting of Surguja, Korba, Raigarh, Jashpur and Korea districts, known for human-elephant conflict incidents.
The region has witnessed several killings of tribals and widespread damage to houses and crops by rogue elephants in the past years.

The minister has instructed forest department officials to pay compensation within seven days of the filing of complaint by the affected families for their loss of lives, livestock or crop, the release said.
He has also directed to closely monitor the roaming of wild animals, particularly elephants, in the far-flung regions to curtail the damage done by pachyderms.