Minister for Forests Umesh Katti held discussions with the local community and stakeholders in Madikeri on Friday and promised resolution of human-animal conflict plaguing the region.
The Minister said the Government had sanctioned ₹100 crore this year to erect barricades along the forest boundary to prevent wild animals, especially elephants, from straying into villages.
Additional funds will be sought from the Centre and steps will be taken to increase compensation of ₹7.5 lakh paid to the family members of the victims killed in elephant or tiger attack.
Responding to the public outcry, Mr.Umesh Katti said forest department staff will be directed to be more empathetic with the victims of human-animal conflict and respond to their grievances at the ground level.
The Minister admitted that conflict was high in the region and as many as 5 deaths were reported from Kodagu in recent times alone and barricading was one of the solutions to mitigage the conflict to a large extent.
The Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife), Vijaykumar Gogi, said the Government was sanctioning ₹50 crore each year to take up barricading and this year the amount has been doubled to ₹100 crore. At the current rate of allocation, the barricading exercise can be completed within the next 6 to 7 years and will help reduce conflcit by 90 per cent.
Sherry Subbaiah of Kodagu District Growers Federation called for increased efforts and measures to mititage conflict situations including a special task force for the purpsoe and wanted special focus on Nagarahole and Brahmagiri region.
Others present in the meeting drew attention of the Minister to their daily predicament and said they were hesitant to venture out and work in their fields fearing attack from elephants and tigers.
A section of the farmers waned the Forest Department to eschew the growth of nilgiri and teak and instead focus on plants and trees that are fodder to the animals so as to prevent them from straying out of their natural habitat.
Opinions were also expressed that steps should be taken to incrase bamboo coverage in the forest area and maintain elephant-proof trenches along the forest boundary to minimise conflicts.
Compensation
Mr. Umesh Katti also visited the family memebrs of Ganesh of Gaddemane who was killed in a tiger attack recently and expressed his sorrow over the developments. He also handed over a cheque for ₹5.50 lakh to the wife of the victim as compensation. The Minister also said that social security benefits of the Government would be ensured to the family members of Ganesh.
