In 6 Years, Maharashtra Lost 501 Lives to Man-Animal Conflict Man-wildlife conflict in Maharashtra has claimed the lives of 501 people over the past six years, injured nearly 4,000 individuals, and caused widespread devastation to livestock and crops, according to data obtained by Nagpur-based activist Abhay Kolarkar through a Right to Information (RTI) request. The figures, shared by the forest department, highlight a growing crisis affecting tiger corridors and forest-fringe villages. The data reveals a sharp rise in human fatalities, injuries, livestock deaths, and crop damage, underscoring the urgent need for improved mitigation strategies. The RTI response shows a significant increase in human casualties. Fatalities rose from 82 in 2020-21 to a peak of 111 in 2022-23, before declining slightly to 91 in 2025-26. Injuries also surged, with the number of affected individuals jumping from 401 in 2020-21 to 1,312 in 2023-24, a more than threefold increase. This spike suggests either a rise in encounters or improved reporting. The year 2023-24 marked the worst livestock toll on record, with over 7,152 cattle killed and 17,740 injured. Crop damage, meanwhile, escalated dramatically, rising from approximately 35,100 incidents in 2020-21 to over 2.11 lakh in 2023-24—a sixfold increase in three years—before easing slightly to 1.63 lakh in 2024-25 and 61,458 cases in 2025-26. The Maharashtra government has implemented a compensation policy through a Gazette notification in February 2024 to address the crisis. Human fatalities are compensated at Rs25 lakh, permanent disabilities at Rs7.5 lakh, and serious injuries at Rs5 lakh. Cattle deaths are reimbursed at 75% of market value, capped at Rs70,000 per large animal. However, the total compensation disbursed over six years—Rs763.#maharashtra #forest_department #abhay_kolarkar #right_to_information #mahakosh_scheme
Smart Project, Zero Accountability: All 65 Digital Kiosks In City Now Defunct The Smart City initiative in Nagpur has come under intense scrutiny after an RTI query revealed that all 65 digital kiosks installed as part of the project are completely non-functional. The kiosks, once hailed as symbols of the city’s digital transformation under the Smart City Mission, now stand dismantled, abandoned, or disconnected due to what official records vaguely describe as “network-related disturbances.” These kiosks were deployed across neighborhoods like Dharampeth, Laxmi Nagar, Hanuman Nagar, and other prominent areas, yet none remain operational. The failure of the project has sparked outrage, particularly because the special purpose vehicle (SPV) Nagpur Smart and Sustainable City Development Corporation Ltd (NSSCDCL), which oversaw the initiative, has failed to disclose how much public money was spent on the project. The SPV, which was dissolved by the state government in May 2026, has left a trail of unanswered questions. Despite the city spending the entire 490 crore central Smart City grant by March 31, 2026, NSSCDCL’s RTI response to activist Abhay Kolarkar stated that expenditure records for the kiosks were “not available.” This lack of transparency has raised serious concerns about financial accountability, auditing, and project oversight within one of Nagpur’s flagship urban development efforts. Kolarkar, who filed the RTI query, questioned how a public infrastructure project could lack records of spending, given that payments would have been approved, contractors engaged, and maintenance contracts in place. The collapse of the kiosk network has also exposed a broader pattern of “install-and-forget” infrastructure in Smart City projects.#nagpur #nagpur_police #abhay_kolarkar #smart_city_mission
Nagpur’s Vanishing Lakes Trigger Environmental Alarm, High Court Steps In The Nagpur bench of the Bombay High Court recently took suo motu cognisance of reports detailing the disappearance and severe degradation of lakes across Nagpur city. The court issued a stern warning that the shrinking water bodies pose significant environmental and constitutional risks, particularly concerning citizens' right to clean water and a healthy environment. A division bench comprising Justices Anil Kilor and Raj Wakode converted media reports published in The Times of India into a suo motu public interest litigation (PIL) after identifying "grave environmental concern and public interest" in the matter. The court emphasized that Nagpur's lakes have historically played a vital ecological role, maintaining environmental balance, supporting biodiversity, recharging groundwater, and regulating the city's microclimate. These water bodies also functioned as natural flood buffers and open ecological spaces amid rapid urbanization. Referring to information obtained under the Right to Information Act by social activist Abhay Kolarkar, the court noted that Sanjay Gandhi Lake and Dobi Lake have effectively disappeared from the official inventory of the Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC). The civic body's records now recognize only 11 surviving lakes within city limits. The surviving lakes listed in municipal records include Ambazari, Futala, Sonegaon, Pandharabodi, Police Line Takli, Binaki Mangalwari, Naik, Gorewada, Sakkardara, Lendi Talao, and Gandhi Sagar lakes. The court highlighted that only five of these lakes remain under the jurisdiction of the NMC, while the others are controlled by different government agencies.#bombay_high_court #nagpur_municipal_corporation #abhay_kolarkar #sanjay_gandhi_lake #dobi_lake
Nagpur Faces Rising Animal Bite Crisis as Monkey and Donkey Attacks Surge Nagpur has recorded an alarming rise in animal bite incidents, with at least three cases reported daily involving monkeys, donkeys, and other animals over the past five years. Data from the Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC), obtained through an RTI request by activist Abhay Kolarkar, reveals that 6,126 such incidents occurred between April 2021 and February 2026. The numbers have grown sharply each year, peaking in the current financial cycle. Officials attribute this surge to escalating human-animal conflict, driven by factors such as open garbage dumps, easy access to food waste, and shrinking natural habitats. Monkeys and stray animals like donkeys frequently enter residential areas, often becoming aggressive when confronted. The data highlights a consistent upward trend in monkey and donkey bites. Cases rose from 546 in 2021-22 to 794 in 2022-23, then to 1,117 in 2023-24, 1,431 in 2024-25, and 2,238 by February 2026. This trend underscores the growing public health concern, as the NMC’s Animal Birth Control (ABC) program focuses primarily on controlling stray dog populations. Between May 2023 and February 2026, the NMC sterilized 69,389 dogs across three centers, with nearly equal numbers of males and females. However, experts warn that this approach does little to address the rising incidents involving monkeys and stray livestock. The city also reported 44,660 dog bite cases during the same period, resulting in 9,946 injuries and eight rabies deaths. Public health experts emphasize that animal bites can lead to severe infections and rabies if not treated promptly.#nagpur_municipal_corporation #abhay_kolarkar #monkey_bites #donkey_attacks #nmc_animal_birth_control
