Madhya Pradesh's ₹145 Crore Initiative to Reduce Human-Tiger Conflict

Bhopal, April 22 (NationPress) In response to the growing incidents of tiger-human conflict, the Madhya Pradesh government has sanctioned a Rs 145 crore initiative to implement chain-link fencing in the buffer zones of nine tiger reserves across the state.

This decision, revealed on Tuesday by Deputy Chief Minister Rajendra Shukla, aims to control human movement to reduce encounters with tigers. He emphasized that this project is a direct response to the escalating tiger population, which has surged from 526 in 2018 to 785 in recent years. The allocated funds will be utilized over three financial years: 2025-26, 2026-27, and 2027-28.

The urgency of this project is highlighted by four recent occurrences of tiger-human conflicts reported between March and April 2025.

The latest incident took place on Monday when a tiger attacked a tribal man near his field adjacent to the Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve. Additionally, a tigress in captivity at this reserve fatally attacked a 14-year-old boy while he was gathering Mahua flowers in the forest early in the morning. His body was later found near a nullah. The following day, the same tigress injured a woman named Rita, who had entered the Pipariya buffer zone to collect Mahua flowers, a vital source of income for tribal communities during their blooming season in March and April.

Compensation for victims of wildlife conflicts includes Rs 10 lakh for families of deceased individuals, Rs 2 lakh for the injured, and medical expenses up to Rs 25,000 for minor injuries. In cases involving property damage, such as elephant attacks, the government assesses appropriate compensation based on established guidelines.

Government statistics reveal that there were 17 tiger attacks on humans in 2020, an increase from 10 in 2019, with the Kanha Tiger Reserve documenting the most incidents.

Official records indicate that 27 human fatalities resulted from tiger attacks between 2019 and 2023, with the number rising to 46 by 2024.

Madhya Pradesh's tiger population has varied over the years, with counts of 306 tigers in 2006, 257 in 2010, 308 in 2014, 526 in 2018, and 726 in the 2022 census across the nine tiger reserves.

The Forest Rights Act of 2005, enacted on December 18, 2006, safeguards the rights of forest dwellers regarding land and natural resources.

Current measures to mitigate conflicts encompass compensation, patrolling, power fencing, deterrents, and repellents.

The Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve originally covered 105 square kilometers but has now expanded to 425 square kilometers. Its buffer zone extends over 820 square kilometers, which includes the Panpatha Wildlife Sanctuary, adding an additional 264 square kilometers, totaling 1,526 square kilometers of protected area.

In the Umaria district, where the tiger reserve is situated, the human population was approximately seven lakh in 2011, with a growth rate of 24.96 percent. Around 50 percent belong to Scheduled Tribes, and 17.14 percent reside in urban settings. Similarly, the Kanha Tiger Reserve has a core area of 917 square kilometers, with its buffer zone extending 1,134 square kilometers. Including the Phen Wildlife Sanctuary, the total protected area expands by another 110 square kilometers.

As tiger populations continue to rise, this fencing initiative is anticipated to play a vital role in alleviating human-wildlife conflict while ensuring the safety of both local communities and endangered species.