Elephants a nightmare to Subramanya residents
The families of poor farmers residing in the border region of reserved forest not only spend their days fearing Maoists, but also worried over the wild elephant menace plaguing the region.
Even as the death of a man in Pulikukku due to elephant attack is still afresh in the minds of people, the second death in a row of Rama Bhat in Hosoli on Friday, has caused fear to the residents of Subrahmanya, Ainekidu, Harihara Pallathadka, Balugodu, Kollamigra, Kalmakaru, Karangallu and surrounding areas.
The villagers of this region who were leading a peaceful life for the last several decades, are now prone to different problems. On the one hand, uncertainity looms large on them due to the fear of implementation of elephant corridor, Pushpagiri Vanyadhama, Unesco heritage tag, electricity units and other projects, on the other hand, they are feared of elephants.
The villagers are scared to send their children to school and men think twice before walking along in the forest roads to reach their homes after dusk. Agriculturists who are prone to low voltage problem, are forced to install the sprinkler jet to run the pumps, can no more afford to do that task at night, as the death of Rama Bhat has send them a scary message.
The people use lanterns, chimneys and lights while walking in the forest to chase elephants away.
They have urged the forest department to take measures to control elephant menace which has increased over the years.
According to agriculturist Janardhan Kuntikan, the wild elephant which entered to his farm on Wednesday, has destroyed around 90 coconut plants and 80 areca plants.
