Karnataka Forest Minister Eshwar Khandre on Tuesday announced an immediate allocation of Rs 40 crore for constructing a 26 km railway barricade to mitigate elephant-related conflicts in Ramanagara district.He expressed concerns over elephants entering human settlements, causing crop damage and loss of life. "Priority is being given to the construction of railway barricades," he said during a high-level meeting at the Ramanagara District Commissioner’s office. Since assuming office, Khandre has approved 35 km of railway barricades for the district, with 25 km already completed and the rest in progress, according to a statement from his office.The district has 85 high-conflict, 45 moderate-conflict, and 40 low-conflict areas concerning elephants. To address this, Khandre directed officials to implement a 24-hour alert system to notify villagers when elephants leave the forest. He instructed district, taluk, and village panchayat staff, along with public representatives, to relay this information via WhatsApp and other means. Responding to legislators’ requests, he also considered establishing an elephant corridor near Muttatti or Neralahatti, modeled after the elephant soft release center in Bhadra Wildlife Sanctuary.The minister emphasized ensuring adequate water and food for elephants and wildlife within forests. He directed officials to maintain water levels in forest ponds, install solar-powered pumps in borewells, and take measures to prevent forest fires, such as creating fire lines and preparing firefighting equipment. Additionally, he urged officials to control pollution in rivers and lakes, warning of strict action against industries discharging waste into water bodies.
