Minister announces Rs 10 lakh compensation

Hyderabad, July 25:-

  Concerned over the damage caused by the elephants to crops in Chittoor and many other districts in the state, Forest Minister P Ramachandra Reddy on Saturday announced that the government would install solar fencing along the reserve forest border to protect the standing crops from wild animals.

Talking to media persons, he said the government has allotted Rs two crore to install solar fencing to protect crops from pachyderms.

He said the government would depute additional staff in problematic places to chase the elephants back into the forest.

The expansion of agricultural areas near the forests is said to be the main reason behind the man-animal conflicts.

He announced compensation of Rs 10 lakh to the villagers, whose crop was damaged by wild elephants in Chittoor district.

This has resulted in shrinking of the elephants’ migratory path. Straying of wild elephants into agricultural lands has now become a regular feature due to the harvest season, say sources.