JOIN USFarmers, coffee growers and others staged a protest on Thursday demanding translocation of wild elephants that have been causing loss of lives and property in Sakleshpur, Hassan district.
Legislators, elected representatives, members of several organisations and representatives of various political parties participated in the rally that was organised by the State Coffee Growers Federation, Hassan District Planters’ Association and Rotary Club, from Sakleshwara Swami temple to the Forest department office.
U M Theerthamallesh of the federation said that the government is destroying forests in phases by implementing hydel power projects, Yettinahole project and the MRPL pipeline project. The jumbos stray into villages in search of food and damage crops, he said.
Coffee Board member N B Uday Kumar said the problem has been persisting for a decade and more than 40 farmers have died due to jumbo attacks so far. “Farmers of around 80 villages under Hetturu and Yasalur hobli have stopped cultivation. Translocation of the elephants is the only solution,” he said.
MLA H K Kumaraswamy said that the government should translocate all wild jumbos immediately. The issue has on several occasions been brought to the notice of the government through written complaints but Siddaramaiah’s government has not taken the issue seriously, he alleged.