Jumbo herd destroys banana plantation

The elephants from Savandurga reserve forest are creating havoc in the surrounding areas. Says progressive farmer Narasimhamurthy, who lost his ready to be harvested banana plantation worth more than Rs 10 lakh ravaged by wild elephants, said, “Government should call tenders to shoo away elephants or provide guns to the farmers to shoot elephants”.

The wild elephant menace is troubling farmers near Nayakanapalya for the past nearly  years and they have incurred huge losses due to harm to banana, coconut,chikoo, jackfruit, papaya, pomegranate crops.

The farmers have submitted appeal to  various departments to prevent wild elephant attacks as many as 23 times. “But not a single official has even visited the place” they say. The loss is estimated at Rs 5 lakhs.

“Wild boars, bear and parrots visit our farms and w have not complained. But the wild elephant menace is destroying our lives. We are incurring huge debts due to the elephant attack and neither the government nor the forest department is helping us” said R Rangappa.

The farmers have appealed for compensation.