New Delhi, Oct 14 The Supreme Court on Wednesday asked the Centre to examine the issue of compensation for crop damage caused by human-elephant conflicts.
A bench of Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi was hearing a plea on elephant corridors passing through different states.
Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati referred to the top court’s August 17 order, which directed the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change to conduct a fresh survey and submit a comprehensive report, including the necessary steps taken by them to prevent obstructions in elephant corridors.
Bhati, while apprising the bench that they have got information from some states, sought some time to file the report.
The counsel appearing for the petitioners referred to the issue of compensation.
“This relates to the human-elephant conflict and one of the main issue is of compensation for crop damage etc,” the lawyer said.
“You examine this aspect,” the bench told Bhati.
On August 17, the top court directed the ministry to conduct a survey to check if any state has constructed obstacles or created blockades in elephant corridors.
The bench had made clear that states cannot construct obstacles in the pathways of elephants to prevent loss of crops and livelihoods.
Justice Bagchi had said the practice of using fireballs and spikes in West Bengal was prevalent because the elephants come from Nepal and through West Bengal they go to Jharkhand and other states.
“The status report shall also indicate steps taken to prohibit the use of fireballs, mashaals (torches), or any other coercive measure to divert the natural movement of the elephants,” the apex court had said.
The bench was informed that the ministry has issued mandatory guidelines to ensure seamless and unobstructed elephant corridor passing through different states.
The petitioners have said that use of ‘mashaals’, sharp metal rods, fireballs, inflammable objects as a method to scare away elephants was extremely cruel and barbaric and causes immense mental trauma and physical distress to the animal.
(PTI News)
