Cheques worth Rs 2.38 crore distributed to 5 families of Kudremukh National Park who voluntarily decided to relocate

Mangaluru: Forest, Ecology and Environment Minister Eshwar B Khandre said the government is making efforts to relocate forest dwellers residing inside forests, including those from Kudremukh National Park.

He was speaking at the two-day cashew fair organised by the Karnataka State Cashew Development Corporation at Kadri Park on Sunday. Cheques worth Rs 2.38 crore were distributed to five families who voluntarily decided to relocate from Kudremukh National Park on the occasion. Compensation was also provided to the families of two elephant attack victims from Kerekatte.

Khandre said there were around 1,300 families living inside Kudremukh National Park, of which 350 families had already been compensated and relocated. Another 300 families had voluntarily applied for relocation, and the rehabilitation programme would be implemented in phases.

The state government had released Rs 20 crore for the rehabilitation package this year. He said he had directed officials to immediately identify families willing to voluntarily move out of forests and facilitate their relocation. “Around Rs 17 crore is currently available for rehabilitation, and within the next one month, all those who voluntarily decide to move out of forests will be provided compensation,” he added.

The Minister said that after an elephant attack claimed two lives in the Kerekatte area of the Sringeri Assembly constituency, directions had been issued to capture the elephant. However, he said merely capturing elephants would not solve the issue.

“Every life is precious. Lost lives cannot be brought back. However, to support the families of victims, the government has provided compensation of Rs 20 lakh to families of those killed in wildlife attacks,” he said. Considering the condition of the affected families in Kerekatte, the government had also provided contract-based jobs in the Forest Department to two members of the families on humanitarian grounds, he added.

The Minister said that man-animal conflict had increased due to urbanisation and encroachment of forest land. An elephant task force for Dakshina Kannada district had already been launched, and 25 personnel had been trained. A command and control centre had also been set up to monitor elephant movement and address the elephant menace in the district. Railway barricades were being installed, while steps were also being taken to ensure adequate food and water for wildlife inside forests.

Measures had also been taken to recruit veterinary doctors and staff in the department, he added.

Referring to climate change and global warming, Khandre said rainfall patterns had drastically changed, with a month’s rain falling within a week and a week’s rain falling in a single day, causing crop damage and increasing destruction. He called upon people to commit themselves to environment conservation and increasing green cover.