Karnataka   

Joint effort to drive elephants back to State

PANAJI: The Goa and Maharashtra governments have discussed plans to work out a joint strategy by the Department of Forests of the two States to drive back elephants to Karnataka.

Goa is grappling with the problem of destruction caused by wild elephants from neighbouring Karnataka, in its northern border villages.

Alternatively, both the State governments may seek help from the Union Government or some international agencies to tranquilise and transport the elephants back to their natural habitat in Karnataka. The issue was discussed at a meeting between Goa Minister for Forests Filipe Nery Rodrigues and Chief Minister of Maharashtra Vilas Rao Deshmukh at the latter’s residence in Mumbai on Wednesday.

As a result of the unnatural migration of wild elephants, there was huge crop loss in north Goa. Elephants had killed a forest employee recently, and the entire village of Halarn was in a state of panic, Mr. Rodrigues told Mr. Deshmukh.

Goa Chief Minister Digambar Kamat had also met Mr. Deshmukh earlier and apprised him of the seriousness of the issue.

Mr. Rodrigues sought the assistance of the Maharashtra Government in driving out the elephants.

The Goa officials complained that people in Sawantwadi region on the Maharashtra border were causing impediments while diverting the elephants to Karnataka through Maharashtra.

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