Suja raises elephant attack issue in Upper House

Madikeri, Mar. 10: Legislative Council member M.P. Suja Kushalappa raised the issue in the Upper House today during the Zero Hour regarding the incident of a 16-year-old school student Pujya in Bettathur village of Kedagu district and a tribal woman Jaljakshi in Balegundi Hadi of Valnur village getting killed in a wild elephant attack and urged the government to take appropriate action. Two people have died in a wild elephant attack in a span of a few days. Human-wildlife conflict in the district is increasing day by day, Suja demanded that the government take this seriously and take permanent action.

Speaking on the occasion, Forest Minister Ishwar Khandre explained about the incident and said that the department has been monitoring the area through an elephant task force camp. The department has been instructed in this regard and the departmental officials have taken action. Human-wildlife conflict is occurring due to several reasons including the increase in the number of animals, and the government has taken this seriously. To control elephant-human conflict, 7 km. of railway track barrier has been sanctioned for Madikeri division and 20 km. of Nagarhole division in the year 2025-26, and the work will start soon, he said.

On Feb. 28, a 17-year-old girl living on the edge of the forest died due to an elephant attack, while on Mar. 9, a 55-year-old tribal woman living inside the forest died, he said, which is a very painful thing. Life is very precious, there is no price to be placed on it. The Forest Department is taking all measures to prevent human-wildlife conflict. Elephant control ditches and solar electric fences are being maintained. 2 elephant task forces are working. Now, the Chief Wildlife Warden has ordered the capture of 2 elephants, he said. In both these cases, Rs. 5 lakh compensation has already been distributed to the close relatives of the deceased, and the remaining Rs. 15 lakh compensation will be given to each within a week, he said. Ishwara Khandre says the government is also making sincere efforts to come up with permanent solutions to control elephant-human conflict.

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