Farmers protest state’s move to declare Male Mahadeshwara Sanctuary as Tiger Reserve
Chamarajnagar: Hundreds of farmers from Hanur taluk staged a strong protest on Monday against the Karnataka government’s proposal to declare the Male Mahadeshwara Wildlife Sanctuary as a tiger reserve.
The protest, led by office-bearers of the Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha (KRRS), began with a massive bike rally from Ramapura in Hanur taluk, where participants raised slogans and carried placards depicting tigers to register their opposition to the move. The rally passed through Hanur, Kollegal, Yalanduru, and Santhemarahalli, before concluding at the Deputy Commissioner’s Office in Chamarajnagar.
Farmers argued that converting the sanctuary into a tiger reserve would severely impact their livelihoods, restricting access to forest resources and agricultural activities in nearby villages.
The state government’s plan follows a series of tiger deaths in the Male Mahadeshwara Wildlife Sanctuary, which has drawn serious concern from the authorities. Forest Minister Eshwar Khandre has directed the Forest Department to submit a detailed report on the deaths and the overall ecological condition of the sanctuary. The government is reportedly treating the matter as a high priority, considering the repeated loss of tigers in the area.
According to sources, forest officials are in the process of finalizing the report, which will determine the next course of action.
KRRS district vice-president Gowdegowda, taluk office-bearer Palaniswami, and local farmer leader Venkatesh were among those who led the rally. The protesters submitted a memorandum to the district administration urging the state government to drop the proposal, warning that declaring the area as a tiger reserve would force thousands of farmers to abandon their ancestral lands.
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Priyanka Gandhi urges Nitin Gadkari to expedite road projects in Kerala's Wayanad
Wayanad/New Delhi (PTI): Congress MP from Wayanad Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Friday said she met Union Minister Nitin Gadkari, seeking his intervention to expedite pending road infrastructure works in her constituency, including those aimed at addressing landslide issues at the Thamarassery pass.
Sharing photographs of the meeting on the social media platform 'X', Priyanka said Gadkari, the Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, heard her concerns and sought updates from the relevant officials.
In her post, she expressed hope that the pressing issues she raised, which directly affect public safety and daily life, would receive the attention and urgency they deserve.
“Met respected Gadkari to raise issues concerning my constituency, Wayanad, and urged that pending works be expedited without further delay. He was kind enough to hear my concerns and get updates from the relevant officers,” she said.
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“I sincerely hope these pressing issues, which directly affect people’s safety and daily lives, will receive the attention and urgency they deserve,” she added.
A day earlier, Priyanka had sought an appointment with Gadkari in Parliament, saying she had been seeking an opportunity since June to discuss issues related to her constituency.
Responding to her request, the minister had said his doors were always open and that she could meet him at any time.
She subsequently met him at his office later the same day.
Met respected Shri @nitin_gadkari to raise issues concerning my constituency, Wayanad, and urged that pending works be expedited without further delay.
— Priyanka Gandhi Vadra (@priyankagandhi) December 19, 2025
He was kind enough to hear my concerns and get an update from the relevant officers.
I sincerely hope these pressing issues… pic.twitter.com/UkxnXP6gxn
