School Education Minister Madhu Bangarappa. | Photo credit: File photo
School Education Minister Madhu Bangarappa is in favor of a special team to deal with human-elephant conflicts in Shivamogga, along the lines of the elephant task force operating in neighboring Hassan and Chikkamagaluru districts.
After discussing incidents of conflict in parts of the district at a review meeting in Shivamogga on November 28, the minister said he would raise the issue at the state level and ensure that a special team is assigned to monitor the movement of wild elephants and prevent them from entering human habitations.
In the meeting, legislators Belur Gopalakrishna, Araga Jnanendra and Sharada Puryanaik raised the issue of human-elephant conflicts in their respective constituencies. They alleged that officers did not take any measures to prevent elephants from entering human dwellings. Many farmers suffered huge losses when wild elephants damaged their crops. In some areas, the animals damaged water pipes in agricultural fields, they said.
Deputy Conservator of Forests (Wildlife) Prasanna Krishna Patagar said the staff had been dealing with the conflict since June this year. “They went around day and night. Besides, we built elephant-proof ditches and also took measures to install solar tentacles to prevent elephants from entering human dwellings,” he explained to the meeting participants.
Doctors for Rural Service
The unavailability of doctors to serve in rural areas also came up during the meeting. Mr. Gopalakrishna, Sagar MLA, said that in his constituencies, primary health centers in places like Byakodu and Nittur had no doctors. Even after his repeated efforts, no one showed up to serve.
Health Ministry officials said doctors who were posted under the mandatory rural service program did not go to the said centers. Mr. Bangarappa suggested that they should identify and send doctors who would commit to the cause. “The state government will implement a policy to strengthen the health system in rural areas,” he added.
Published – 28 Nov 2025 19:51 IST
