Minister Khandre forms task force to tackle human-wildlife conflicts in Karnataka
Bandipur (PTI): Karnataka Forest Minister Eshwar Khandre on Monday directed the formation of a state-level Human-Wildlife Conflict Management Task Force comprising local representatives, NGOs, and environmental experts to curb human-wildlife conflicts in the state.
Chairing an emergency meeting of senior wildlife department officials here following two tiger attack incidents in Saragur taluk—one resulting in a fatality and another causing serious injuries—Khandre said the task force would create awareness among people in forest-fringe villages on coexisting with wildlife and taking necessary precautionary measures.
According to him, the task force would also visit schools in forest-bordering areas to educate students on being sensitive towards wildlife.
"The task force will act as a bridge between officials and villagers," Khandre said in a statement issued by his office.
He emphasised that standard operating procedures (SOPs) must be followed during any tiger, elephant, or leopard capture operations and instructed officials to impose prohibitory orders under Section 155 before initiating such operations.
Khandre urged forest staff and officers to maintain harmonious relations with villagers, act in a friendly manner, and promptly inform locals through microphones and social media if elephants or tigers enter residential areas.
He also directed the use of modern technology, such as thermal cameras and drones, to monitor wildlife movements near human settlements and farmlands.
"A comprehensive command centre will be established to send instant WhatsApp alerts to residents when wild animals are spotted nearby," he said, adding that necessary instructions had already been issued for urgent implementation.
The minister stressed the need for increased patrolling to prevent harm to humans and wildlife and to protect crops. However, he acknowledged a shortage of staff in the department and instructed officials to expedite recruitment.
Khandre suggested hiring frontline staff on a contract basis where required and asked the chief wildlife warden to submit a report within five days on measures to prevent animals such as elephants and tigers from straying out of forests.
He also directed officials to submit proposals for tentacle fencing, solar-powered wire fencing, elephant trenches, and chain-link fencing along railway barricades wherever necessary.
To curb the entry of single-use plastics into forest areas, Khandre launched a two-tier checking system for vehicles travelling through forest routes.
On roads passing through forest regions such as Bandipur and Nagarahole, passengers will first be encouraged to voluntarily dispose of single-use plastic items in designated garbage bins during the first level of checking.
"At the second level, if staff find any single-use plastic items inside vehicles during inspection, a fine will be imposed," he warned.
Khandre noted that when single-use plastics enter forests, wild animals often consume them, leading to illness and death.
"Our staff collect plastic waste along forest roads every day, which also exposes them to the risk of wild animal attacks. Hence, this two-tier inspection system will be an effective measure to curb the issue," he added.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
Ex-PM Devegowda warns opposition of electoral losses if they continue to allege 'vote chori'
New Delhi (PTI): Former Prime Minister H D Devegowda on Monday said the Opposition parties would "suffer" if they continue to raise allegations of "vote chori" and create suspicion in the minds of voters by blaming Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government.
Participating in a discussion on election reforms in the Rajya Sabha, he criticised the Opposition for making a mockery about the Prime Minister "in the streets and on the public platform".
"This (India) is a very big country. A large country. Congress may be in three states. Remember my friends please, by using the words 'vote chori' you are going to suffer in the coming days. You are not going to win the battle," Devegowda said, referring to the Opposition members.
He asked what the Opposition is going to earn by "blaming Narendra Modi's leadership and creating a suspicion in the mind of the voters" through the claims of "vote chori".
"What has happened to their minds? Let them rectify," Devegowda said.
ALSO READ: Search operation ends in Anjaw truck accident, 20 bodies recovered
The former prime minister said that during his over seven decades of public life, he has never raised such issues of vote theft despite facing defeat in elections.
He also cited a letter written by the then Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru regarding inclusion of "18,000 votes" (voters) in Kerala.
"Why I am telling this (because) during the Nehru period also, there were certain lapses in the electoral system," said Devegowda, who was the prime minister between June 1, 1996 and April 21, 1997.
He said that the Congress party faced defeat in the recent Bihar elections despite raising the issues of mistakes in the electoral rolls.
"What happened after that even after so much review (of voters list). Think (for) yourself! You got six MLAs," the senior Janata Dal (Secular) leader said.
Devegowda questioned the Opposition as to why they want to make allegations against the prime minister on the issue of the voters list?
"Election Commission is there. Supreme Court is there. The Election Commission has given direction to all the state units to rectify all these things," he said.
Devegowda said people of the country have full confidence in Narendra Modi's government and it will come back to power after the next Lok Sabha elections as well.
K R Suresh Reddy, Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) party's Rajya Sabha member from Telangana, said that electoral reforms are the backbone for a healthy democracy.
He said a large and diverse nation like Indi needs clean electoral rolls.
Asserting that strict re-verification should not become a mechanism for exclusion, Reddy said no eligible voter should lose their right to vote simply because accessing paperwork is difficult.
He said while the concern definitely is on the voters' exclusion, "we should also be equally concerned about the percentage of voting."
"What is happening in voting today? Once the election ends, the drama begins. The biggest challenge that the Indian democracy has been facing in spite of two major Constitutional amendments has been the anti-defection. Anti-defection is the name of the game today, especially in smaller states, especially where the legislatures are small in number," Reddy said.
The senior BRS leader suggested creation of a parliamentary committee "which would constantly look into the defection" and "ways and means to cutting that".
AIADMK's M Thambidurai raised the issues related to election campaigning.
ALSO READ: National Herald case: Shivakumar to seek time next week to appear before Delhi police
"Election campaigns are one of the important election processes. In that, political parties must be given the proper chance to campaign," he said and cited problems faced by his party in Tamil Nadu in this regard.
Thambidurai said political parties were facing hardships in Tamil Nadu to conduct public meetings and to express their views to the public.
YSRCP's Yerram Venkata Subba Reddy stressed on bringing electoral reforms at both the state and national levels.
He also suggested replacing Electronic Voting Machines with paper ballots in all future elections.
"EVM may be efficient but can't be trusted. Paper ballot may not be efficient but can be trusted. You need trust in democracy," Reddy added.
