The Supreme Court on Wednesday asked the Centre to examine compensation for crop damage caused by human-elephant conflict. The bench also gave the government more time to submit a report on clearing elephant corridors. Judges want the ministry to stop the use of fireballs and spikes against these animals.
The Supreme Court on Wednesday asked the Centre to examine compensation for crop damage caused by human-elephant conflict while hearing a petition concerning elephant corridors across states.
The court also gave the Centre more time to submit a comprehensive report on obstructions in elephant corridors and measures taken to ensure the animals can move without hindrance.
A bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi was hearing the plea in New Delhi. Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati referred to the court's August 17 order directing the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change to conduct a fresh survey and submit a comprehensive report on steps taken to prevent obstructions in elephant corridors.
Bhati told the bench that the ministry had received information from some states and sought more time to file the report.
Counsel for the petitioners raised the issue of compensation. "This relates to the human-elephant conflict and one of the main issues is compensation for crop damage, etc," the lawyer said.
"You examine this aspect," the bench told Bhati.
On August 17, the Supreme Court had directed the ministry to survey whether any state had constructed obstacles or created blockades in elephant corridors. The bench had made it clear that states could not obstruct elephant pathways to prevent the loss of crops and livelihoods.
Justice Bagchi had said the use of fireballs and spikes was prevalent in West Bengal because elephants entered from Nepal and travelled through the state to Jharkhand and other states.
"The status report shall also indicate steps taken to prohibit the use of fireballs, mashaals (torches), or any other coercive measure to divert the natural movement of the elephants," the court had said.
The bench was informed that the ministry had issued mandatory guidelines to ensure that elephant corridors passing through different states remained seamless and unobstructed.
The petitioners said the use of mashaals, sharp metal rods, fireballs and inflammable objects to scare away elephants was extremely cruel and barbaric, causing the animals immense mental trauma and physical distress.
The court has now asked the Centre to examine compensation for crop losses while completing its report on corridor obstructions and measures against the use of force to divert elephants from their natural routes.