Karnataka - Hassan   

Govt. urged to permit translocation of elephants

By Our Staff Correspondent

HASSAN, SEPT. 13. The man-animal conflict in the Malnad region has triggered a tussle between the elected representatives and Forest Department officials in the district.

Members of the Joint Action Committee of the Forest Department on Monday staged a dharna in front of the office of the Conservator of Forests condemning the attitude of the Alur-Sakleshpur MLA, H.M. Vishwanath. They alleged that he had "provoked" the villagers, which led to tension in Kagenur village of Alur taluk on Thursday.

Permission

The officials, who are sympathetic towards the demands of the farmers, urged the Government to permit them to catch and translocate the elephants, which were creating havoc in the area.

The officials also took out a procession and submitted a memorandum to the Deputy Commissioner. The death of Manje Gowda, a farmer in Kagenur of Kenchammanahoskote hobli in Alur taluk, in an elephant attack and the alleged humiliation of Forest Department officials by Mr. Vishwanath and the villagers of Kagenur, led to the protest, the officials said.

A senior official, who spoke to The Hindu on condition of anonymity, alleged that Mr. Vishwanth had provoked the villagers. The officials, who rushed Kagenur, were forced to lift the farmer's body. The villagers had also pelted stones and tried to set the Forest Department vehicles on fire.

He said that the forest land in Alur was around 100 hectares and an elephant needed that to move around. Since there were 13 elephants in the area, it was natural for them to stray into human habitations. Another official said that the department did not have proper equipment to scare away the elephants. According to statistics available, 18 persons, including a few forest officials, had been killed in elephant attacks. The President of State Foresters' Association (SFA), H.K. Hanume Gowda, said that the officials faced danger, as they did not have proper equipment to scare the elephants away.

Compensation

According to H.N. Devaraj, presidents of the Karnataka State Range Forest Officers' Association, the demand of the farmers, who are claiming value of the crops destroyed by elephants, was just. He said that the compensation should be paid well in time to assuage their feelings.

Official sources in the department said that the department had decided to catch the elephants and translocate them to either Bandipur National Park or Nagarahole Wildlife Sanctuary. The department had sought the help of six elephants from the elephant camps in Kushalnagar and Shimoga in this regard and a letter to this effect had been dispatched.

Many forest officials, who participated in the protest, regretted that senior officials did not visit Kaganur.

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• Govt. urged to permit translocation of elephants
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