'Provide gun license or relocate jumbos'

The members of the Centre’s high powered committee who visited  Alur, in wake of the Supreme Court order, to interact with the farmers had to face the brunt of the farmers.

The demands put forth by the farmers included issue of gun license to them, no cases to be filed against the farmers and others. They challenged the officials  that they know how to drive the elephants straying into their villages even in their absence.

In view of the Centre giving permission to relocate the 28 elephants that had taken refuge in the surroundings, the department of forests had made all the preparations for the same.

The work should have begun during last December and should have been completed by February. But, as the environmentalists had approached the court, the High Court had directed to form a committee to submit a report on the advantages and disadvantages of the relocation.

The High Court order had disappointed the farmers, who explained their problems to the committee members.

They condemned the environmentalists for being comfortable in cities and filing cases.

They were hoping that the work for the relocation would begin in December but till now no step has been taken, they lamented. Wild jumbos have claimed the lives of three people, and who will take the responsibility, they asked. They demanded either they relocate the jumbos are provide gun license to them.

Earlier, there were large number of people who used to gather if the government officials or members arrived to discuss the problem, But, there were only around 75 persons who made it to the interaction on Monday. Those who were present did not spare anybody and took everyone including forest department, elected representatives, environmentalists to task.

Deputy commissioner Mohanraj, MLA H K Kumaraswamy, Chief Conservator of Forests B K Singh, Prof R Sukumar, Sharatchandra, retired CCF Dr C R Basappa and others were present.