Kumar Bahukhandi
Save Human and Crops from wild animal , CM Sai instructs officials to deal sensitively -Photo Source-Internet .
Chief Minister reviews functioning of Forest and Climate Change Department
Raipur: Chief Minister Shri Vishnu Deo Sai has issued firm directions to ensure that compensation for incidents involving human, livestock, and crop losses due to wild animal attacks be provided promptly, in accordance with the rules, and with utmost sensitivity. He noted that residents in forested regions often suffer the pain of losing loved ones in such tragic incidents and stressed that their grievances must be addressed swiftly with a humane approach.
CM Sai was speaking during the review meeting of the Forest and Climate Change Department held at Mahanadi Bhawan, Nava Raipur on Tuesday August 5, 2025 .
He remarked that elephant-human conflict and other incidents involving violent wild animals causing loss of life, livestock, and crops have become significant challenges in the forest regions of the state. In such situations, it is the government’s responsibility to ensure that the affected families receive timely and just assistance. He instructed that all related cases be resolved promptly and as per regulations.
Highlighting the economic and emotional impact of these events, the Chief Minister pointed out that wild elephants not only damage staple crops like paddy but also cause massive destruction to cash crops such as sugarcane, banana, papaya, and jackfruit. This results in a dual burden—financial and psychological—on the farmers. During the meeting, CM Sai also reviewed the current status of individual forest rights titles granted in the state.
Forest and Climate Change Minister Shri Kedar Kashyap, addressing officials during the meeting, directed that departmental coordination be further strengthened to ensure timely delivery of compensation to affected individuals. A proposal for revising and increasing compensation rates for loss of life, permanent disability, livestock damage, housing loss, and crop damage was also tabled during the session.
The meeting also included a discussion on the assistance provided under RBC provisions for crop loss caused by natural disasters.
The meeting was attended by Chief Secretary Amitabh Jain, Additional Chief Secretary (Forest) Richa Sharma, Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister, Subodh Kumar Singh, Secretary to the Chief Minister Rahul Bhagat, Secretary of Agriculture Department Shahla Nigar, Secretary of Revenue and Disaster Management Department Avinash Champawat, Secretary of Planning, Economics and Statistics Department Ankit Anand, Secretary (Forest) Amarnath Prasad, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife) Sudhir Agrawal, Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forests Prem Kumar, along with other senior officials.
