Wild Elephant Issue Remains Unresolved After Bandh; Siege of Vidhana Soudha Warned

Madikeri, Jun. 10: Elephant-human conflict in the district has reached its peak; In this context, the district BJP has warned the state government that it will stage a Kodagu bandh, Bengaluru Chalo, and Vidhansauda siege struggle.

Speaking at a press conference held at the city's Patrika Bhawan, former Assembly Speaker K.G. Bopaiah said that human-elephant conflict is not new in the district. However, the state government has failed to prevent it. In 2010, when the BJP government was in power for the first time, the elephant trench and railway barricade project was implemented to prevent wild elephants. After that, the BJP government had been maintaining it. As a result, elephant conflicts had reduced. However, in the current government, the state government has completely neglected the maintenance of railway barricades and elephant trenches. He alleged that this is the reason why wild elephant attacks have increased to the point of excess.

Wild elephant attacks are happening continuously in Kodagu. Recently, the wife of a senior IPS officer passed away. Human lives have become worthless. He said that the Chief Minister should take the problem of the district seriously and take steps for a permanent solution.

The state government has installed a board at the back of KSRTC asking for kindness towards animals. However, the farmers and working class of the district are being attacked by wild elephants. Questioning whether the state government has no mercy towards humans, he said that the state government has announced a grant of Rs 1500 crore for 5 years in the budget for wildlife control. Where has this money been spent? Information should be provided on how much work has been done, he said, criticizing that the state government has given money to the guarantee scheme today and that the state treasury is empty.

The state government is working to taunt the central government on the issue of preventing wildlife attacks. The necessary central grant cannot be released without the state government submitting a proposal. The Kerala government has submitted a proposal and brought the central grant. However, he expressed dissatisfaction that the Karnataka government was criticizing the central government without any reason, without even going to the trouble of submitting the proposal.

Legislative Council member M.P. Sujakushalappa said that the wild elephant infestation in Chamarajanagar, Hassan and Chikkamagaluru districts, including Kodagu district, is excessive. As a result, a situation has arisen where workers are reluctant to go to the plantations. The government should seriously consider the problem of human-elephant conflict. Otherwise, he warned that they will organize in 5 districts of the Malnad region and intensify the struggle and lay siege to the Vidhana Soudha.

The government, which is spending Rs. 56 thousand crores on the poor, should release Rs. 2 thousand crores to devise a permanent solution to prevent wild elephant attacks in five districts. The elephant population is increasing in the forest area, leading to a shortage of food. He demanded that 2 thousand acres of land be set aside for the management of the increasing number of elephants and for growing food.

BJP District President Napanda Ravi Kalappa said that two people are being killed in wild elephant attacks every month in the district. Despite the many casualties, the state government does not seem to be taking the incident seriously. No action is being taken. We had earlier organized protests in Madikeri and Virajpet areas to warn the government. However, the government has not given serious thought to the problem. BJP State President Vijayendra will arrive for Shanivarsan on the 13th, and a final decision will be taken after consultation on the struggle.

State BJP Executive Committee member Robin Devaiah, District General Secretaries V.K. Lokesh and Mahesh Jaini were present at the press conference.

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