Daltonganj: The Medininagar forest division in Palamu district has shortlisted 57 van samitis out of a total 783 for better and effective joint forest management and reduce man-animal conflict.Van Samitis helps forest officials to check illegal felling of trees and their transportation out of forests and in management of man-animal conflict, sources said.The 57 samitis have been allotted around Rs 1 crore to curb man-animal conflict, carry out anti-predatory measures, control forest fires, monkey and langur menace, manage nilgais, among others, officials said.Due to scarcity of water and food during summer, straying of animals into human habitation is a common phenomenon in Palamu. Sources said elephants, deer, monkeys, langurs, nilgais, among others, often come onto roads in search of food and water.Principal chief conservator of forests and head of the forest force, Sanjeev Kumar, said, “Van samitis comprise local men and women. They know better about their areas. I have asked my officers to use their traditional knowledge of surface water management in the larger interest of wildlife.”“We are trying to make food and water available so that wild animals do not stray near human habitation,” divisional forest officer (DFO) Satyam Kumar said.“Last year, a biker died in Hussainabad subdivision after being attacked by a nilgai. The bereaved family was given an ex gratia of Rs 4 lakh. Giving compensation is not our aim. We are concerned about how such conflict can be avoided or averted,” the DFO said.“Making grass available for herbivores and tamarind trees for monkeys are activities where van samitis can play a big role,” he added.