Files regarding compensation for crop, cattle and human damages caused by clash between humans and the wildlife finally moved from Maharashtra’s Finance department on Wednesday. The clearance came at a time when the three deaths in Brahmapuri division have generated much heat.In fact, around the Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve, 22 people have died in the past 22 months in tiger attacks.“We don’t get any compensation in time. And now the tigress has made life miserable for us and our children. What is the Forest department for after all?” is the common refrain in the villages around the reserve, which have been stalked by the tigress for the past 15 days.The Brahmapuri division alone accounts for pending cases worth nearly Rs 50 lakh out of the total outstanding compensation of Rs 5.34 crore in the entire state. Of the total 30,147 pending cases in the 15 forest circles in the state, 25,682 are from seven circles in Vidarbha. Of them, 1,373 are cattle death cases (state’s total is 2,272), while 305 (state’s total is 396) are human loss/injury cases. The amount awaiting disbursal was nearly Rs 3 crore.The local political leadership loses no chance to placate the people by holding agitations and sympathetic talks as they are now doing in Brahmapuri.Last year, when elephants trampled fields in western Maharashtra, the Government was quick to disburse a payment of more than Rs 1.8 crore. Vidarbha presents a picture in contrast.A top Forest official said it has become difficult for them to face the public in the absence of compensations. “It is our general observation that people from Vidarbha are tolerant towards wildlife, which is a very good sign. But they shouldn’t be taken for granted on the compensation front.”Public pressure at Talodhi seems to have moved them. Principal Secretary J P Dange said, “The files were pending with the Finance Department for the past three months. Only yesterday, they were finally cleared.”
