TAG: GS 3: DISASTER MANAGEMENT
THE CONTEXT: In response to a surge in human fatalities due to wild animal attacks, the Kerala cabinet has declared human-wildlife conflict a ‘state-specific disaster.’
EXPLANATION:
- The decision comes after three recent fatalities, sparking protests in affected areas.
- The government aims to address the issue through coordinated efforts and has outlined various measures to mitigate conflicts.
Recent Fatalities and Public Outcry:
- Three individuals were killed in separate wild animal encounters, including attacks by elephants and a wild gaur.
- These incidents led to significant public protests, with locals and opposition parties demanding immediate action to address the escalating human-wildlife conflict.
Government Response and Measures:
- Declaration as State-Specific Disaster: The Kerala cabinet decided to categorize human-wildlife conflict as a ‘state-specific disaster,’ recognizing the severity of the issue.
- Involvement of Disaster Management Authority: The State Disaster Management Authority will collaborate with other government departments to formulate solutions to the problem.
- Committees at Various Levels: Committees will be established at the state, district, and grassroots levels to address the issue. These committees will define responsibilities and operational procedures.
- State-Level Committee: The state-level committee, led by the Chief Minister, will include key officials from the departments of forests, revenue, local self-government institutions, and SC/ST welfare.
- Control Committee: Another control committee at the state level, presided over by the Chief Secretary, will include representatives from home, revenue, forest, LSG, SC/ST, agriculture departments, the head of the forest department, PCCF, chief wildlife warden, and the member secretary of the disaster management department.
- Nodal Officer and Control Room: The Chief Wildlife Warden will be appointed as the nodal officer for human-wildlife conflict, overseeing a dedicated control room with robust communication facilities at the forest department headquarters.
Additional Mitigation Measures:
- Temporary Watchers: Deployment of additional temporary watchers in areas prone to wild animal attacks.
- Vegetation Clearing: Clearing dense vegetation in private estates and plantations near actual forests to reduce potential conflict zones.
- Rapid Response Teams: Strengthening rapid response teams with increased personnel, equipment, and vehicles.
- Alert Committees: Formation of special alert committees at forest stations to enhance preparedness.
- Coordination with Neighboring States: Convening meetings with officials from neighboring states like Karnataka and Tamil Nadu to build coordination in mitigating human-wildlife conflict.
Controversial Decision to Kill Wild Gaur:
- Government Order: The Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife) issued an order to kill the wild gaur responsible for the farmer’s death in Kozhikode district.
- Local Protests: The decision to euthanize the gaur followed protests by locals who have been experiencing gaur attacks for several years. Meetings with district officials and the forest minister aimed to address demands from the victim’s family and the affected community.
State Specific Disaster: The States can declare state specific disasters as per the DMA, 2005. Once declared, the SDMA can play a more active role in its management, among other things.
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