Special task forces soon to handle human-animal conflicts in Karnataka
Mysuru: The Karnataka Forest Department is preparing to establish special task forces to address the rising human–animal conflicts (HACs) across the state amid a surge in wild animals, particularly tigers, straying out of forest areas.
The issue has been most prominent in the Bandipur Tiger Reserve (BTR). Long-term scientific research and data monitoring centre is the need of the hour, Deccan Herald wrote in its report citing experts.
The spike in conflict has been especially alarming around the fringes of BTR, with three people killed, one injured, and 10 tigers rescued in just one month in the Sargur and Nanjangud taluks of Mysuru district. Statewide, 31 people have lost their lives to HACs between April 1 and November 7 this year—cases linked to five tiger attacks, 20 elephant attacks, two leopard attacks, and incidents involving other wild animals. Karnataka recorded 65 HAC cases in 2023–24 and 46 cases so far in 2024–25.
To counter the escalating situation, the proposed special task forces will operate at both district and taluk levels, strengthening coordination among departments during conflict situations.
“Chief Minister Siddaramaiah approved this proposal in principle at a recent review meeting. A government order will be issued to form these task forces in a few weeks,” DH quoted Prabhash Chandra Ray, principal chief conservator of forests and chief wildlife warden of Karnataka, as saying.
Wildlife expert Sanjay Gubbi noted that BTR’s ecological carrying capacity is about 100 tigers, but the reserve currently supports over 140, a rise attributed to intensive habitat management. With the forest area unchanged, surplus tigers are moving into agricultural zones, preying on wild pigs and livestock, and increasing human–tiger conflict.
Gubbi stressed the need to scale back habitat manipulation and allow natural ecological processes to regulate tiger numbers. "We need to halt the intensive management of tiger habitats. Allowing the ecosystem to maintain itself naturally will help bring tiger numbers back to carrying capacity,” DH quoted Gubbi as saying.
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LoP Ashoka targets CM govt over corruption, says being 'shameless' in public life not forgivable
Bengaluru (PTI): Targeting Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and the Congress government in Karnataka on corruption, BJP leader R Ashoka on Friday said, being foolish was forgivable, but being "shameless" in public life was not.
The Leader of Opposition in the state Assembly claimed that in just 30 months of its tenure, the Congress administration has broken every previous record on corruption-related controversies.
He was responding to Siddaramaiah's post on 'X' on Thursday hitting back at the BJP, stating that Upa Lokayukta Justice Veerappa's claims of "63 per cent corruption" were based on his report in November 2019, when BJP's B S Yediyurappa was the CM.
"But Ashoka, without understanding the Upa Lokayukta's statement properly, has ended up tying the BJP's own bells of sins onto our heads and has effectively shot himself in the foot," the CM had said, as he accused Ashoka of foolishness for trying to twist Veerappa's statement to target the current government.
Responding, Ashoka said, "it is one thing to be called foolish in politics, that can be forgiven."
"But in public life, especially in the Chief Minister's chair, one must never become shameless," Ashoka posted on 'X' on Friday addressing Siddaramaiah.
Noting that the CM himself had admitted on the floor of the Assembly that a Rs 87 crore scam took place in the Valmiki Development Corporation, he said that when a CM acknowledges such a massive irregularity inside the floor of the House, the natural expectation is immediate action and accountability.
"But instead of taking responsibility, you continue in office as if nothing has happened. What should the people of Karnataka call this, if not sheer shamelessness," he asked.
Pointing out that the CM's Economic Advisor and senior Congress MLA Basavaraja Rayareddy had publicly stated that under Congress rule, Karnataka has become No.1 in corruption, Ashoka said, "Yet, you still cling to the Chief Minister's chair without a moment of introspection. What should the people of Karnataka call this, if not sheer shamelessness."
Senior Congress MLA C R Patil had exposed the "money for House" racket in the Housing Department and even warned that the government would collapse if the details he has were made public, Ashoka said.
"Despite such serious allegations from within your own party (Congress), you neither initiated an inquiry nor acted against the concerned minister. What should the people of Karnataka call this, if not sheer shamelessness," Ashoka asked the CM.
Highlighting the "40 percent commission" allegation Congress made against the previous BJP government, the opposition leader said, the commission that the Siddaramaiah government appointed concluded that the accusation was baseless.
"After your own panel demolished your own claim, what moral right do you have to continue repeating that allegation. What should the people of Karnataka call this, if not sheer shamelessness," he asked.
For the last two and a half years, Karnataka has been 'drowning' in corruption, scandals, irregularities and allegations across departments. Ashoka said, "If I begin listing every case that emerged under your government, even 24 hours would not be enough."
"And the most tragic aspect of your administration is this: the unbearable pressure, corruption demands and administrative harassment under your government pushed several officers and contractors into extreme distress - including the suicide of Chandrasekharan which exposed the Valmiki Development Corporation scam - a sign of how deeply broken the system has become under your watch," he said.
Instead of fixing this hopeless environment, the government has tried to bury every complaint and silence every voice, he charged.
"Being foolish is forgivable, but being shameless in public life is definitely not."
"When your own ministers admit scams, when your own advisors certify Karnataka as No.1 in corruption, and when your own MLAs expose rackets inside your departments - clinging to power without accountability is not leadership. It is shamelessness in its purest form." PTI KSU
Earlier on Thursday Ashoka had demanded that the corruption case and allegations in the state against the Congress government be handed over to a CBI investigation, citing a reported statement by Upalokaykta Justice Veerappa alleging "63 per cent corruption", following which Siddaramaiah hit back at the BJP leader.
