THE JHARKHAND STORY NETWORK
Daltonganj, February 13: The menace of Nilgai in Palamu and adjoining districts will be addressed through planned relocation, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF) and Head of Forest Force (HoFF) Jharkhand, Sanjeev Kumar, said on Thursday.
“The plan is to relocate Nilgai to selected areas in the Palamu Tiger Reserve (PTR) that will be vacated by humans. The vacant spaces will be used to house Nilgai,” Kumar said.
He added that once relocated, the animals would not stray into agricultural fields.
Vacant areas identified in PTR
Speaking about the land likely to fall vacant, the HoFF said, “There is the Mandal Dam project. Seven villages will move out. Some landscapes will indeed be submerged, but we have identified 35 such spaces for the Nilgai.”
Palamu district has been facing a severe Nilgai problem. Local MP Vishnu Dayal Ram has repeatedly raised the issue in the Lok Sabha, seeking mitigation measures, including compensation for crop losses and control of the Nilgai population in Palamu and Garhwa districts.
Recently, the Medininagar forest division provided an ex gratia relief of ₹4 lakh to the family of a youth who died after a Nilgai attack in the Hussainabad sub-division of Palamu.
Compensation for crop loss
DFO, Medininagar forest division, Satyam Kumar said farmers affected by Nilgai damage can apply for compensation.
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“We hear about losses caused by Nilgai, such as damage to vegetables and crops. However, farmers often do not come forward for compensation as quickly as reports of Nilgai sightings spread,” he said.
He clarified that only genuine claims will be accepted. “No fake claim will be settled. The claim must be genuine and bona fide,” he added.
According to the DFO, the compensation process involves a simple one-page form. A revenue karamchari is required to submit a report on the status of the land where crop damage is claimed.
Monkey menace also under review
When asked about the monkey menace, the HoFF said it was of a smaller scale compared to the Nilgai issue. “We will take appropriate steps. Such conflicts with humans have to be contained,” he said.
He noted that monkeys often enter human habitation in search of food and water. If these are available in forests, monkeys are less likely to venture into villages.
DFO Satyam Kumar suggested that planting tamarind (imli) trees could help keep monkeys within forest areas. Sources said a “monkey food court” model in Telangana may also be studied for possible implementation in Jharkhand.