Raipur, Jan 6 - The Chhattisgarh government has paid over Rs.76 million ($1.9 million) compensation in the past four years to forest dwellers for loss of life and property due to attacks by wild elephants, a statement said Sunday.The state's forest department paid the amount between financial years 2003-04 and 2006-07.A forest department official told IANS Sunday that about 90 percent of the compensation was paid for damage to standing crops and demolition of homes by wild elephants in the state's northern forested areas of Surguja, Jashpur, Raigarh, Korba and Koriya districts.The government paid Rs.11.35 million compensation to forest dwellers in fiscal 2003-04, Rs.18.46 million in 2004-05, Rs.22.17 million in 2005-06 and Rs.24.2 million in 2006-07.Officials say the government is working on an elephant project in the northern regions to contain the growing human-elephant conflict.
(c) Indo-Asian News Service
