The Chandigarh Administration has notified a compensation of Rs 5 lakh for death or permanent incapacitation in case of human-wildlife conflict in the union territory.

The compensation would also be given in case of grievous and minor injury in human-wildlife conflict.

“Under the scheme of ex-gratia in human-wildlife conflict cases in respect of union territory, Chandigarh, an amount of ex-gratia relief of Rs  5 lakh for death or permanent incapacitation is hereby notified. For grievous injury, Rs 2 lakh would be given to the victim while in case of minor injury, cost of treatment upto Rs 25000 will be incurred by the Administration,” stated a notification issued by Arun Kumar Gupta, Principal Secretary, UT Forests.

UT Chief Conservator of Forests, Debendra Dalai said that the notification has been issued in compliance with the order of Union Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change.

The compensation would be offered to victims in case of death or injuries due to attack by snakes, monkeys and other wildlife animals in the city, he added

Notably, the urban city of Chandigarh had recorded the highest number of deaths due to snake bites in 2018 among all union territories in the country.The city had recorded 829 cases of snake bites and reported 14 deaths due to such cases in 2018 while 1294 cases of snake bites and nine deaths due to this was recorded in 2017, as per the National Health Profile 2019.

According to the data with the UT Forests and Wildlife Department, Spotted Deer (Chittal), Pangolin (ant eater), Wild Boar, Jackal, Small Indian Civet, Jungle Cat, Porcupine, Langur, Rhesus Monkey, Indian Hare, Common Mongoose among other mammals inhabits the Sukhna Wildlife Sanctuary here.

Leopards are a frequent visitor to the Sanctuary from forest areas of neighboring Haryana. The varieties of reptiles including Snakes like Cobra, Rat Snake, Common Krait, Russell’s Viper, Indian Python and Common Monitor (Gho), Freshwater Turtle also inhibits the Sanctuary.