Kerala on March 6 declared man-animal conflict as a state-specific disaster. Kerala is the first state in the country to do so.
Key points
- At present, managing man-animal conflict is the responsibility of the forest department, which acts as per the Wild Life Protection Act.
- Once the issue is declared a state-specific disaster, the onus to deal with it shifts to the state disaster management authority, which, powered by the Disaster Management Act, can take quicker and more decisive action.
- At the state level, the Chief Minister is the ex officio chairman of the body, and several departments, including the forest department, are stakeholders.
- In the districts, the district disaster management authority is headed by the district collector, who is also the executive magistrate.
- Once an issue is declared a state-specific disaster or a national disaster, the disaster management authority can take quick decisions and actions overriding all other norms.
- District collectors can directly intervene in their capacity as the chairman of the district disaster body.
- At present, the chief wildlife warden is the only authority to take a call on a wild animal wreaking havoc in human settlement. There is only one such post in the state.
