Approval of a scheme of more than Rs 47 crore 11 lakh for the management of wild elephants
Bhopal: The cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Dr. Mohan Yadav was held in the ministry on Tuesday. The cabinet has given in-principle approval to scheme number 9854 amounting to Rs 47 crore 11 lakh 69 thousand for a total of 4 years (from the year 2023-24 to 2026-27) including the financial year 2025-26 and the year 2026-27 i.e. the next 2 years, to reduce human-elephant conflict in the state and for the management of wild elephants.
Under the scheme, a total amount of Rs. 1 crore 52 lakh 54 thousand has been spent for the protection and monitoring of elephants in the financial year 2023-24 and year 2024-25. As per the decision, a provision of Rs. 20 crore in the scheme was made in the financial year 2025-26 and Rs. 25 crore 59 lakh 15 thousand in the year 2026-27. In this way, the size of the scheme for a total of 4 years (from the year 2023-24 to 2026-27) including the next 2 years has been fixed at Rs. 47 crore 11 lakh 69 thousand.
It is noteworthy that a plan has been made for the protection and monitoring of wild elephants, habitat management and development in those protected areas of the state where elephants are present or are moving around and outside the protected areas. Control rooms will be set up to monitor wild elephants and various structures will be built to prevent wildlife-human conflict. E-I surveillance will be established and operated. Work will be done for the rescue and rehabilitation of wild animals.
Under the scheme, training will be provided to villagers, forest department and other department officials/employees to deal with human-elephant conflict in the affected areas. Various types of fencing work will be done, including solar fencing. Rapid response teams will be formed for human-elephant conflict and necessary equipment will be purchased. Patrolling vehicles and radio collars will be purchased for monitoring and tracking work. Also, an elephant friend team will be formed.
