Households wait for compensation after wildlife menace

Kathmandu: Farmers have been waiting for compensation and relief for the damages caused by wild animals to their crops and cattle in Gulmi.

The wild animals not only damaged crops but also attacked domestic animals and humans.

Chhatrakot rural municipality-4, Bishnu Prasad Pantha said the victim households have submitted applications at the District Forest Office, seeking compensation and relief but the Office doesn't pay attention to it.  The Directive relating to the relief and compensation for damages caused by wild animals has mentioned well that the sufferers are entitled to the compensation and relief.  Chitra Kala Thapa from Resunga municipality-3 also shared a similar plight that she had applied at the forest office for relief amount after a tiger preyed on her goats but till now the office hasn't responded.

Likewise, the Division Forest Office, Gulmi informed that it had not received the amount to be distributed in compensation though the government asked the Province Forest Directorate for it. District Forest Officer Pankaj Thakur said that applications for the relief were sent to Banke National Part for the release of the amount in case of those received before the new directive. The amount would be deposited directly into sufferers' accounts.

The Division Forest Office has recorded deaths of 68 domestic animals in the attack of wildlife while crops belonging to 11 households were damaged in the fiscal year, 2079/80. As per the directive, the household suffering human injury and loss is entitled to relief amounts ranging from Rs. 20,000 to Rs. 1 million, while in case of cattle injury and deaths, the household gets Rs. 10,000 to 30,000 in compensation.

Similarly, the household whose crop is damaged by the wildlife can claim compensation of as much as Rs. 10,000.

RSS