An amout of Rs 100 crore has been earmarked in the Kerala budget for 2016-17 to tackle man-animal conflict in forest fringe areas of the state.
Finance Minister T M Thomas Issac, while presenting the budget in the assembly today, said the amount has been sanctioned for a special investment scheme for constructing a suitable fence on war-footing for providing protection to farmers living in forest fringe areas, he said.
The project was introduced in the wake of increase in instances of man-animal conflict.
He said deforestation and drying up of water sources inside the forests has forced the animals to stray into human settlements.
Electric fencing, trenches and rail fence were recommended as the solution to the problem, he pointed out.
He said Rs 25 lakh has been sanctioned for rehabilitation of monkeys at Kalpetta muncipality in Wayanad district.
The budget also proposed Rs 43 crore for preservation and conservation of bio-doversity, national parks and sanctuaries.
An amount of Rs 10 crore was sanctioned in the budget to provide relief to endosulfan victims in Kasaragod district, suffering from various health problems due to spraying of endosulfan pesticide.
