Eshwar Khandre Photo Credit: FILE PHOTO
Forest, Environment and Environment Minister Eshwar Khandre on Wednesday directed forest department officials to ensure proper maintenance of elephant ditches and hanging solar fences installed in Kodagu district to reduce human-elephant conflict.
Mr. Khandre, who met MLAs AS Ponnanna, Manthar Gowda and Darshan Dhruvanarayan, instructed officials to complete repairs to the existing 422 km of elephant ditches and 544 km of hanging solar fences within a month.
He said 38% of the deaths due to human-wildlife conflict in the state occur in Kodagu district and directed officials to increase patrolling.
He also directed to strengthen the elephant task force and rapid response teams.
Mr Khandre added that four vehicles have already been purchased to add to the existing six, so that staff can respond quickly when elephants and other wildlife enter coffee plantations and drive them back into the forests.
The minister ordered that four more vehicles be procured and local youth be hired on contract to strengthen the task force and improve efficiency.
He also directed senior officials to take all necessary steps to establish a strong wireless network to share information on wildlife movement and to curb illegal felling of trees and poaching.
Officials have also been instructed to collect data on the number of plantation workers in each zone in Kodagu district.
“When wildlife, especially elephants, come near human settlements or plantations, workers should be alerted immediately through WhatsApp and vehicles equipped with loudspeakers,” he said.
Mr. Khandre also directed officials to ensure that game animals in the forests do not face shortage of water and fodder.
Published – 18 March 2026 21:29 IST
