Mysuru, 27 Oct

A day after a tiger claimed the life of a farmer in Saragur taluk in Mysuru district of Karnataka, State Forest Minister Eshwar B Khandre, on Monday, was greeted by farmers protesting in front of the KR Hospital mortuary on Monday.

The agitators, under the banner of Karnataka Sugarcane Growers Association, alleged that Khandre failed to curb the menace of wild animals in the human habitat. They also demanded an increase in the relief amount.

Khandre was visiting the mortuary to pay respects to Rajashekhar, the deceased farmer, but was met by farmers shouting slogans against the State and Union government.

They urged the State government to increase the death compensation to  Rs 50 lakh compensation for victims of wild animals attack and also people injured by wild animals menace. 

They also appealed to constitute a special team, task force to tackle tiger and jumbo menace in forest adjacent villages of Mysuru, Chamarajanagar district.

Khandre attributed the increase of human-wildlife conflicts to deforestation.

Karnataka Social Welfare and district minister Dr HC Mahadevappa also said that he would direct deputy commissioner G Lakshmikanth Reddy to clear illegal resorts in forest fringe villages, besides initiate measures.

State to form task force

Khandre said the government will form a State-level Wildlife Human Conflict Management Task Force comprising local people's representatives, NGOs and environmental experts to control human-wildlife conflict.