Bengaluru: To mitigate the increasing human-elephant conflict in Ramanagara district, the Karnataka government has sanctioned ₹40 crore for immediate construction of a 26-kilometer-long railway barricade, said Eshwar B. Khandre, minister for forest, ecology and environment.
Chairing a high-level meeting at the Ramanagara Deputy Commissioner’s office, along with MLAs CP Yogeshwar and Iqbal Hussain, Khandre emphasized that elephants frequently stray into human settlements, causing crop damage and posing a risk to human lives. “We are prioritizing the construction of railway barricades to prevent such incidents,” he stated.
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The minister informed that, since taking charge, a total of 35 km of railway barricades have been approved for Ramanagara district. “Of this, 25 km has already been completed, and the remaining portion is in progress,” he said.
With 85 high-conflict zones and 45 areas experiencing frequent elephant intrusions, Khandre directed officials to establish a 24/7 elephant alert system for villagers. “Whenever elephants stray out of the forest, immediate warnings must be sent to residents through WhatsApp and other communication channels,” he said.
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The minister instructed district, taluk, and gram panchayat officials to ensure that alerts reach local representatives, panchayat staff, and villagers in real-time.
Elephant Habitat Development in Ramanagara
Responding to requests from legislators, Khandre said that an elephant habitat (soft-release center) would be considered in Ramanagara, similar to the one being developed in Bhadra Wildlife Sanctuary. “We will explore setting up this facility at Muthathi or Neeralakatti to prevent elephants from venturing into human settlements at night,” he assured.
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Ensuring Water and Food in Forests
To discourage elephants from leaving their natural habitat, the Minister directed officials to
ensure an adequate supply of food and water in the forest. “Waterholes inside protected areas, including the Cauvery Wildlife Sanctuary, must be maintained properly, especially during summer. Where necessary, solar-powered pumps should be installed to ensure continuous water flow,” he added. Khandre also emphasized the need for preventive measures to avoid forest fires during summer. “Fire lines should be created, and fire-fighting equipment must be kept on standby to handle emergencies,” he instructed.
Strict Action Against Pollution of Lakes and Rivers
Expressing concern over pollution in rivers and lakes, Khandre directed authorities to take strict action against industries dumping waste into water bodies. “Immediate steps must be taken to prevent direct discharge of industrial effluents into lakes and rivers,” he said.
During the meeting, Khandre pulled up officials from the Social Forestry Division when they failed to provide details about the number of district and rural roads where afforestation efforts had been undertaken. “When attending meetings, come prepared with complete data,” he admonished.
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The meeting was attended by former MP DK Suresh, chief principal conservator of forests and head of forest force Brijesh Dixit, chief wildlife warden Subhash Malkade, deputy commissioner Yashavanth and other senior officials.
This initiative marks a significant step towards mitigating human-wildlife conflict in Ramanagara, ensuring safety for both residents and elephants while strengthening conservation efforts.
