In response to the growing incidents of human-tiger conflict, the Madhya Pradesh government has approved a ₹145-crore plan to install chain-link fencing across buffer zones in nine of the state’s tiger reserves.
Deputy Chief Minister Rajendra Shukla announced the decision on Tuesday, stating that the initiative aims to regulate human movement in forest-adjacent areas and reduce encounters between humans and tigers. The plan will be implemented over three financial years — 2025–26, 2026–27, and 2027–28.
This decision comes in the wake of a sharp rise in tiger population in the state, which has increased from 526 in 2018 to 785 in recent years. The urgency of the project is further underscored by a series of recent tiger attacks. Between March and April 2025 alone, four incidents of conflict have been reported.
In the latest incident, a tiger attacked a tribal man near his field close to Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve. Another tragic case involved a 14-year-old boy who was killed by a tigress while collecting Mahua flowers in the forest. His body was later found near a nullah. The same tigress reportedly attacked a woman named Rita the following day in the Pipariya buffer zone. Mahua flowers bloom during March and April and are a seasonal source of income for tribal communities.
The state offers compensation in cases of wildlife-related injuries or deaths. Families of deceased victims receive ₹10 lakh as ex gratia, while those injured receive up to ₹2 lakh. For minor injuries, medical expenses up to ₹25,000 are covered. In cases of property damage — particularly during elephant encounters — compensation is determined as per government rules.
Government records show a concerning trend: tiger attacks on humans rose from 10 in 2019 to 17 in 2020. The Kanha Tiger Reserve recorded the highest number of such incidents. Between 2019 and 2023, 27 human deaths were attributed to tiger attacks, a number that rose to 46 by the end of 2024.
Madhya Pradesh has seen fluctuations in its tiger population over the years: 306 tigers were recorded in 2006, 257 in 2010, 308 in 2014, and 726 in the 2022 census. These tigers are spread across the state’s nine tiger reserves.
In addition to fencing, existing mitigation strategies include patrolling, compensation, use of deterrents, and power fencing. These are complemented by the provisions of the Forest Rights Act, 2005, which protects the rights of forest-dwelling communities to access land and natural resources.
Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve has grown significantly, from its original 105 square km to a total of 1,526 square km, including the buffer zone and the Panpatha Wildlife Sanctuary. Located in Umaria district, the area is home to a large tribal population, with nearly 50% belonging to Scheduled Tribes. As per the 2011 census, Umaria had a population of about seven lakh, with a growth rate of 24.96% and 17.14% living in urban areas.
Similarly, Kanha Tiger Reserve comprises a 917 square km core area and a 1,134 square km buffer zone. When the Phen Wildlife Sanctuary is included, the total protected area increases by another 110 square km.
(IANS)
