Srinagar, Nov 22: Concerned over the frequent attacks on humans by wild animals, minister for forests and ecology Mian Altaf Ahmad on Monday said the government is initiating more steps to strengthen the Wild Life department with latest technology and equipment for the protection of human lives.
 Altaf told the meeting of the officers, which he convened, to discuss threadbare the man-animal conflict.
 An official statement said that at the meeting it was disclosed that during the last three years 56 deaths and 638 injured cases were reported in Kashmir.
 The officers told the meeting 45 out of 56 death cases and 415 cases out of 638 injured cases have been compensated.
 The statement said Rs 19.50 lakh have been distributed among the victims this year.
 The meeting was informed that Rs 1 lakh is being given as compensation in death cases while in injured cases Rs 5000 to Rs. 33000 is being compensated.
 The wildlife department mulls to set up coordination committees in different areas and this was in addition to ‘do’s and don’ts’ being popularised for preventing mankind-wildlife conflicts.
 The meeting was attended by Chief Wild Life Warden, P C Kapoor, Conservator of forests, Wild Life Kashmir, Javaid Ahmad Punjoo, Wild Life Warden Central, Rashid Naqash, Wild Life Warden, North, , Wild Life Wardens of  Islamabad (Anantnag) and Shopian, Wild Life Warden Wetland and other senior officers.
 He impressed upon the officer to take every possible step to prevent man-animal conflict as there was no alternative to the human loss.
 He asked the officers to settle the pending compensation cases within 15 days and arrange the funds immediately.
 He said the state government is committed to provide immediate relief to the deserving people particularly for facing immediate problems or have become the victims of natural calamity or other things. He asked the officers to solve the problems of the victims of wild animals without any red tapism.

Lastupdate on : Mon, 22 Nov 2010 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Mon, 22 Nov 2010 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Tue, 23 Nov 2010 00:00:00 IST