Mangaluru: Sullia taluk in Dakshina Kannada adjoining Western Ghats has been witnessing frequent elephant intrusions leading to loss of property and threat to human life. To check elephant attacks, the forest department has decided to dig trenches along the Western Ghat borders in the taluk this year.
While 41 people have died in the state in elephant attacks in 2016-17, one death is reported in Dakshina Kannada district. According to the forest department officials, the government has paid Rs 1.70 crore as compensation to the kin of 41 victims and Rs 5 lakh to the kin of a victim from Sullia.
Meanwhile, the taluk has also lost crops at several places including Mandekolu, Ajjavara, Aletti, Markanja and other villages. Following frequent complaints from the villagers, the forest department has planned to dig trenches on a 40.5km stretch, out of which 18.5kms will be dug in Mandekolu. While the work has already begun in several parts of Sullia, the department sources said that it would require an average of Rs 1.75 lakh to dig one km of trench.
Out of 41 deaths reported in the state in 2016-17, Kodagu has seen 9 deaths due to elephant attack. Virajpet taluk in Kodagu alone has seen six deaths. While five people died in Tumkur, 4 in Hassan district.
Sudhakara Gowda, a villager from Sullia, told that elephant attacks have become very common in villages near the forest. “Elephants enter villages in search of water and destroy crops. We witness elephants moving around villages almost every day,” he said.
Minister for forest environment and ecology B Ramanath Rai said the department has prepared action plans to dig trenches, erect solar fences and other measures to prevent elephants from entering human habitats. “Teams have been formed by the department in association with the villagers to chase elephants back into forests.
Forest staff have been given walkie-talkie, guns and vehicles to carry out the work. Crackers are also being given to chase elephants into the woods. To make water available for elephants throughout the year, action is being taken to maintain all sources including lakes and ponds inside the forest area. Farmers are encouraged to put solar fencing to protect their crops through 50% funding by the government,” Rai said.
As per 2012 elephant census, Karnataka has 6,072 elephants, which constitutes 25% of elephant population in the country, Rai said adding that the census conducted in May 2017 is in the final stage of tabulation.