Lok Sabha Debates
Need To Release Funds For Solar Fencing To Prevent Wild Elephants Straying To The  ... on 30 March, 2012
> Title :Need to release funds for solar fencing to prevent wild elephants straying to the human habitations in Chamarajanagar Parliamentary Constituency, Karnataka.
SHRI R. DHRUVANARAYANA (CHAMRAJANAGAR): I would like to draw the kind attention of the august House regarding the rise in human- elephant conflicts in my Constituency that had cost the lives of straying elephants as well as human beings and loss of standing crops. Human-Elephant conflicts have been in the news for the past several months. The gravity of the conflict came under the spot light on 11th November, 2011 when a wild elephant from nearby forest in Kollegal forest area trampled a person named Mr. Nagaraju, a native of P.G. Palya in my Constituency. My Parliamentary Constituency with a vast area has forests spread over all the 11 taluks comprises of Bandipur and Nagarahole National Park, BRT Tiger project area and Cauvery wildlife sanctuary. The farmers residing adjacent to the forest areas such in H.D. Kote, Gundlepet, Nanjangud, Chamarajanagar and Kollegal taluks practicing agriculture are in a state of panic when the wild Elephants straying into the fields and destroyed the standing crops. A total of crops grown is 1115.40 ha. in H.D. Kote and Nanjangul range had destroyed and 3925 cases have been registered for the year 2011-12. A total of Rs.68 lakh was disbursed to farmers as compensation towards the crop loss. A total of Rs.19 lakh are yet to be paid to the farmers as compensation to set right 671 cases. A total of 41 elephants died naturally including seven wild elephants due to electrocution. In order to prevent the entry of elephants the forest Department has sought more financial support of about Rs.2 crore to erect 66 kms. solar fencing and digging elephant-proof trench for 8 kms. Hence, I request the Ministry of Environment & Forests, through the Chair, to release requisite funds to erect solar fencing, digging elephant proof trench in the forests of my Constituency and increase the compensation to be given to the farmers for the loss of standing crops due to elephant straying and destroying immediately.