CM admits poaching of wild tuskers in Meghalaya

Shillong, Apr 18 (UNI) Meghalaya Chief Minister Donkupar Roy today admitted poaching of wild elephants in the state.

''Poaching does take place and we hear about it, but it is sporadic in nature,'' Dr Roy told the Assembly during the Question Hour.

Informing the House that 24 people had been killed due to elephant depredation, the Chief Minister, who also holds the Forest and Environment portfolio, said the government paid an ex-gratia of Rs 24 lakh to the next of kin of the victims.

He, however, admitted that the process of handing over the compensation to the victims was slow. ''It takes more than a year to complete the formalities regarding compensation after conducting proper inquiry,'' he said.

Congress MLA Saleng Sangma, who brought up the issue, said the people in his constituency are yet to receive compensation for the past several years.

On the electrocution of wild elephants, the Chief Minister assured the House that the state government will try to minimise the deaths of elephants due to electrocution.

UNI RRK KK BDP PM1730