Karnataka Chief Minister Sanctions Special Grant to Address Human-Elephant Conflict in Kodagu
In a significant move to mitigate the escalating human-elephant conflict in the Kodagu district, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has approved a special grant for implementing comprehensive prevention measures. The announcement was made by Ajjikuttira Ponnanna, the Chief Minister's legal adviser and Virajpet MLA, during a public event in the region.
Rail Barricade Project and Infrastructure Development
Speaking after handing over a new jeep to the elephant task force stationed in the Virajpet range at the Avaregunda forest area near Siddapur, Ponnanna detailed the government's plans. He revealed that work on a 7-kilometer rail barricade, stretching from Maldare village to Avaregunda, will commence shortly. This critical infrastructure project is estimated to cost approximately Rs 12 crore and aims to create a physical barrier to prevent elephant incursions into human settlements.
Ponnanna emphasized that additional grants will be mobilized to install similar barricades in other vulnerable areas where elephants frequently enter the Siddapur region. This proactive approach is part of a broader strategy to safeguard both wildlife and local communities from conflict-related incidents.
Community Support and Rural Development Initiatives
During the same event, Ponnanna also distributed sewing machines to two women beneficiaries residing in forest areas, a gesture made on behalf of the forest department to support livelihood opportunities. Furthermore, he inaugurated concrete road construction works valued at Rs 1 crore in Guhya-Koodugadde, Avaregunda, and Maldare villages under the Siddapur gram panchayat.
He highlighted that most rural roads in the constituency have been developed using special grants provided by the state government, with several ongoing road projects currently in progress. However, Ponnanna noted that work on state highways has faced delays due to the war in the Middle East, which has disrupted asphalt supply chains.
Despite these challenges, he confirmed that numerous concrete road works have been successfully completed within Siddapur limits, and rural road development remains a top priority under the government's further action plan.
Officials Present and Incident Report
The event was attended by key officials including Virajpet Assistant Conservator of Forests (ACF) Tahseen Banu, Kushalnagar ACF Gopal AA, and Virajpet Range Forest Officer (RFO) Shivaram, underscoring the collaborative effort between political leadership and administrative bodies.
In a related development, a separate incident occurred near Siddapur on Sunday, where a moving car caught fire due to a technical fault near Injilagere. Arun, a resident of Malagodu, was traveling with his family to a relative's house when the vehicle ignited. He promptly evacuated his family, and with the assistance of locals who rushed to the scene, the fire was extinguished. Fortunately, there were no casualties reported in this incident.
