Jammu, May 4: While militancy related violence has shown a downward trend in the state, man-animal conflicts have claimed around 90 lives across the state in the past four years.
Data released by the Wildlife Department says that 789 persons have been injured in the man-animal conflicts these years, which has become a major worry for the authorities.
The incidents have been predominantly reported in Kashmir Valley where killings and injuries have shown an upward trend in recent years due to encroachment of the forest area.
Minister for Forests and Wildlife, Mian Altaf, said the department has brought latest equipment and trained manpower to deal with the situation and a project has been submitted to the Ministry of Environment and Forests, Government of India, to deal with the issue.
“We are bringing equipments like modern rescue vans, long-range tranquilizing guns and automatic trap cages,” he said.
At present the state government gives an ex-gratia of Rs one lakh to those killed by wild animals while the injured are given assistance according to the level of injury.

Lastupdate on : Tue, 4 May 2010 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Tue, 4 May 2010 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Wed, 5 May 2010 00:00:00 IST