Demand to address man-animal conflict

Members of the Chamarajanagar Assembly constituency unit of Youth Congress urged Chairman of Karnataka State Forest Development Board Chalavadi Narayanaswamy to take steps to conserve the forests and also to reduce man-animal conflict in the region.

A memorandum was submitted to Narayanaswamy in this regard on his maiden visit to the city after assuming office. He was also felicitated on the occasion.

Youth Congress members said, more than 50 per cent of the land under the district limits were covered by forests, including Bandipur National Park, Biligiriranganatha Tiger Reserve, and Cauvery and Malemadeshwara reserves. Stress should be laid on their conservation and development.

“Measures should be taken to conserve endangered species. The district is rich with forest resources. So, man-animal conflict in villages bordering the forests has become a routine feature. Steps should be taken to avert such conflicts and also to issue adequate compensation to farmers towards the loss of crops. The amount of compensation should be revised as it is very low,” they said.

Youth Congress president Arun, city block Congress president Syed Rafi, general secretary Srikanth and others were present.