Kendrapara: Crocodiles have become a terror in Kendrapara district especially in Rajnagar, Rajkanika, Aul and Mahakalapara blocks. Many incidents of humans getting killed or badly injured by the reptiles are reported. But in many cases compensation eludes the victim’s and their kin, a report said.
In the last one month, crocodiles have killed two and injured three others in the district. There are reports of saltwater crocodiles straying into the Baitarani, Brahmani, Petachala and Kharasrota Rivers.
As per forest department reports, 16 persons died and 15 were injured in crocodile attacks in the last decade. But, unofficially the number is much more. Sources said around 39 people were killed and 80 suffered injuries in crocodile attacks in the district.
As per official reports, one out of every 15 injured in crocodile attacks suffered permanent injury in the last 10 years.
One Kanakalata Mandal of Silapokhari village, who suffered permanent disability, got a compensation of Rs 33,330 from the forest department. Fourteen people who were injured in crocodile attacks were given Rs 5,000 each by the forest department as damages.
However, many people who were killed in crocodile attacks have not been mentioned in the forest department’s report and their kin were not given any compensation under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.
Sources said Jyotsnarani Jena, 45, wife of Harekrushna Jena, of Baghua village died in a crocodile attack June 7, 2015 while she was going to Kathuajora to clean herself. Later, forest personnel and locals retrieved her body. But the forest department did not list her name in their records or pay her family ex-gratia, it was learnt.
Likewise, Rangalata Pati, 58, wife of Parameshwar Pati, a resident of Dangamala village, was killed in a crocodile attack April 25, 2009 in Itajora Creek inside the Bhitarkanika National Park. Her family was not paid ex-gratia by the forest department.
Like Jyotsnarani and Rangalata there are several others who have been killed in crocodile attacks and their families were not given compensation.
The crocodile menace has affected the lives and livelihood of villagers who live in reptile infested areas under the Bhitarkanika National Park. Many families of crocodile attack victims are struggling to survive as they have not received any compensation.
Although the state government declared in October 2017 that it would pay a compensation of Rs 4 lakh to the kin of those who have lost their lives in animal attacks, the families of the dead have failed to get the money in many cases.
DFO of Rajnagar mangrove (forest) and wildlife division, Bimal Prasanna Acharya, said as per guidelines the deceased’s family has to produce detailed documents before the forest department in order to claim the ex-gratia amount.
But often the families of poor victims fail to furnish documents along with inquiry and post-mortem reports before the forest department. Due to this it has become difficult to pay compensation to the families of crocodile attack victims, he said.
Crocodile attacks usually happen during the monsoon and winter. Adult crocodiles generally do not leave their territory to hunt human beings unlike predatory carnivores. They usually become aggressive when humans intrude into the reptiles’ habitat for fishing, poaching, fuel and honey collection.
PNN