'Elaborate steps needed to tackle wild elephant menace'

Addressing a press conference after visiting gruel centres at Gonikoppa and Nelyahudikeri on Friday, he said since the elephant menace is one among the issues of the Western Ghats, it requires elaborate discussions. “The Centre has already announced its commitment towards protecting the Western Ghats. In this backdrop, the State government too should give its share. Both the Centre and State governments are ready for the task,” he said.

“Since the questions of the MPs are selected randomly in the parliament, it is uncertain when the question on elephant menace would be raised. Hence, it has been decided to bring minister Jairam Ramesh himself to the district to get a permanent solution,” he said.
Answering a question on loss to coffee plantations, the MP said the government has already announced a Rs 10,000 crore package. Its benefits will be made available to the growers of the district too, he added.

District-in-Charge Minister J Krishna Palemar, MLA M P Appachuranjan, BJP district head Sunil Subramani, DCC President Veena Acchaiah, ZP President S N Rajarao were present.