Solar fencing to save crops remains far fetched dream

Forest department fails to bring out forest policy to deal with issue

Neither the central nor state governments is taking the initiative to heed to the woes of the ryots. Also the forest department has refrained from bringing out a permanent forest policy to end the problems caused due to the elephant menace.

Jumbos cause major problems at Arkalavadi, Yanahalli, Yaraganahalli, Linganapura, Vadgalpura, Hosahalli and Vaddarahalli in the taluk. Travelling from the Haradanahalli-Arkalavadi route for 35 km takes, one can reach the Yettagatti hill. This is located on the border of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. From here, one can reach the Kongalli hill also, which belongs to Tamil Nadu.
Jumbo menace occurs regularly in these places, which is connected to the Satyamangala and Bandipur National Park.

Tamil Nadu government has installed solar fencing until Yettagatti hill to prevent elephant attacks. In a few places it has dug trenches.

But, it is yet to be completely successful as the solar fencing is not installed on the border stretch completely. Also filling the trenches with sand, elephants are continuing to enter the state and going on rampage.

Off the 10 kilometre stretch, the forest department has installed solar fencing for four kilometres only in the region. With the six kilometre stretch having neither solar fencing nor trenches, the elephants surge into the fields of the farmers.

The farmers in the region grow coconuts, turmeric, sugar cane, jowar and plantains.
Solar fencing are yet to be installed on areas surrounding Sathyamanagala and Bandipur National Park.

Unless, both Karnataka and Tamil Nadu forest departments join hands, the farmers are bound to bear the brunt of the jumbos.