Karnataka didn’t pay kin of Kerala man killed in jumbo attack: Eshwar Khandre

Bengaluru: Forest and Environment Minister Eshwar Khandre informed the Legislative Council on Monday that the Karnataka government has not paid ex gratia to the family of a farmer from Wayanad, Kerala, who was killed in an elephant attack.

Replying to a query by opposition members on increase in human deaths in elephant conflicts and allegations of the government agreeing to pay compensation to kin of a farmer in Wayanad following Rahul Gandhi’s request, the minister clarified, “We have not given a single paisa as ex gratia to the Kerala family.”

It can be recalled that the state government had come under criticism by the opposition parties for reportedly giving compensation following the instruction of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi to the Wayanad farmer’s family during his Lok Sabha poll campaign in Wayanad.  

“I am aware that you have been trolling us on social media platforms. I would like to clarify that no money was given to the deceased Kerala farmer’s family by the state government,” Khandre said.  

According to the sources, the state government’s decision to pay Rs 15 lakh compensation was withdrawn following the intervention of Congress high command.

Admitting that there had been an increase in incidents of human-elephant conflict reported from Hassan and Kodagu districts, Khandre said that the conflict in Karnataka is largely due to 160-175 elephants living out of the forests and in coffee estates.

“These jumbos have never been in forests but have completely lived their life on estates since birth. While there are 114 such elephants n Kodagu, Hassan district also has 50 to 60 such elephants living in coffee plantations. Reduction in forest cover from 60-70% to a mere 20% in recent times is the sole reason for it,” the minister explained. 

Replying to a attention-seeking notice Congress member Ivan D’Souza, the minister said that Elephant Task Force will be approved in the Mangaluru Forest Division.