Chennai: The Tamil Nadu Government on Wednesday said that more than 2,500 people across the State were affected by the damages caused by wildlife, which strayed outside the forest area into human settlements resulting in human-wildlife conflict.

Environment and Forest Minister Dindigul C Sreenivasan informed the Assembly during the demands for grants to his department that the government has spent Rs 4.27 crore to 2,921 beneficiaries. “The Government has also enhanced the rate of compensation amount to be paid for damages caused to properties and human death by wildlife,” he said.

Accordingly, the compensation of human death and permanent incapacitation has been raised from Rs 3 lakh to Rs 4 lakh and for major injuries from Rs 30,000 to Rs 59,000.

The compensation has also been raised for damage to properties of various kind. Further the immediate relief paid for human death has been increased from Rs 25,000 to Rs 50,000.

“An amount Rs 3.80 crore was sanctioned by State scheme and Rs. 59 lakh sanctioned under shared schemes for payment of compensation during 2016-17. He said the scheme will continue during 2017-18 with an outlay of Rs 5.30 crore.