PAC seeks immediate action on human-animal conflict situation

The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has asked the State government to take time-bound action on the human-animal conflict situation in the State.

Congress leader and Wayanad MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra had written to the Committee seeking comprehensive steps to combat wild animal menace in Wayanad. In her letter, she had pointed out that lack of necessary funds and technology had stood in the way of addressing the issue.

Meanwhile, a meeting of the PAC was held in Wayanad on Wednesday. The Committee pointed out that 486 lives had been lost in wildlife attacks in the State in the past five years.

The Committee highlighted the huge disparity in funds allotted to various States under the Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA). Scarcity of water and food in deep forests where trees were cut down was a reason for wild animals wandering into human habitats, the Committee observed. Since CAMPA funds cannot be used for other purposes, the PAC suggested that the Forest department submit a proposal to the Central government to combat wildlife menace and compensate victims.

At the same time, the PAC noted that the landscape management proposal of the Wayanad district administration to mitigate human-animal conflict had been pending approval for the past one year. It directed the Forest department to submit the proposal for Wayanad and Palakkad immediately to the Centre.

PAC Chairman K.C. Venugopal presided over the meeting. Principal Chief Conservator of Forests Rajesh Ravindran, CAMPA Chief Executive Officer Anand Mohan, Inspector General of Forests (Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change) R. Raghu Prasad, and Wayanad District Collector R. Meghashree attended the meeting.