Bengaluru, March 23 Karnataka Forest Minister Eshwar Khandre said on Monday that the government is taking additional measures to mitigate human-elephant conflict in the Bengaluru South district, including strengthening barriers and deploying task forces.
Responding during Question Hour in the Karnataka Legislative Council, the minister said that the increase in elephant population and disruption of traditional corridors have led to a rise in crop-raiding incidents in forest-fringe areas.
"After the Bengaluru-Mysuru Expressway, their corridors have been disrupted. As a result, elephants are coming out of forests more frequently and raiding crops," he said.
Khandre said the government has undertaken extensive protective works, including railway barricades, trenches and solar fencing.
The minister was replying to Congress MLC S Ravikumar, who had raised concerns over rising incidents of crop and property damage, stating that over 5,000 crop and around 600 property damage cases have been reported, and urged the government to adopt stricter and more comprehensive measures.
"After I became minister, we constructed about 262 kilometres of railway barricades in Ramanagara district. In Bannerghatta, about 86 kilometres have been taken up," the minister said.
He added that works covering about 525 kilometres of railway barricades are under way at a cost of around Rs 89 crore, while an additional Rs 200 crore has been sanctioned this year for 117 kilometres of barricading.
The minister said two elephant task forces have already been deployed, each comprising 25 personnel, to respond to conflict situations.
"All possible efforts are being made. If required, more railway barricades will be installed to prevent elephants from coming out of forests," he said.
Responding to demands from members, he said the government is open to expanding mitigation measures.
On the demand for an additional elephant task force in Bengaluru South district, Khandre said, "Already, two task forces have been set up -- one in Koppa and one in Bengaluru -- and we are ready to provide another one for Bengaluru South district if needed."
He also assured immediate attention to infrastructure gaps flagged by members.
"Regarding elephant trenches, immediate action can be taken. I will instruct the officials to prepare a proposal and provide it for the concerned district," he said.
The minister further said funds would not be a constraint. "We will ensure that necessary funds are allocated based on requirement," he added.
