Meera Bhardwaj:
Two farmers died when a wild elephant attacked them in Karnataka. Umesh and Harish died in this elephant attack that took place in Keremane enclosure, Kerekatte Range of Kudremukh National Park that falls in Sringeri taluk, Chikkamagaluru district, Karnataka, India.
The two farmers who were willing to relocate from Kudremukh National Park – were awaiting rehabilitation for the last five years. But alas! They died early this morning (October 31st) in an elephant attack.
The farmers were attacked at the same time and place and reported to have died on the spot which has agitated the farmers and local residents living in the Kerekatte range to no end.
Locals and farmer committees have called for an agitation against the continuing wildlife attacks and Karnataka government’s failure to provide relief and rehabilitation for the remaining 297 families who have applied for relocation from the Kudremukh National Park.
KUDREMUKH NATIONAL PARK ISSUE
The two farmers who died hailed from Keremane village of Kerekatte range. They were very scared and tired of the presence of wild elephants and other wildlife in their vicinity and were desperately waiting to come out of the forest and start a new life outside the Kudremukh National Park.
Local people said, “They were being neglected by senior forest officials who were in fact, playing with our lives by not providing a proper rehabilitation package despite their willingness to move out of the forests. It is very painful for us that such an incident has happened and the conflict situation is worsening day by day.”
RESETTLEMENT OF 297 FAMILIES
In the wake of death of two farmers in Sringeri taluk, wildlife conservationists and activists of Chikkamagaluru district have called for immediate action and re-settlement of the farmers by the state government.
Wildlife conservationist and activist G Veeresh, Chikkamagaluru said, “Nearly 297 families are awaiting rehabilitation and have applied for the “resettlement package project” to permanently move out and prevent such human-wildlife conflict within the Kudremukh National Park.” However, it is shocking that senior forest officers have not shown any interest to take forward the rehabilitation and resettlement of families despite the people’s willingness.”
For the past two decades, hundreds of families have applied for voluntary resettlement from the Kudremukh National Park and are desperately waiting for appropriate relief and rehabilitation package from the Karnataka government. They fear for their lives, living in daily conflict with wildlife and without any facilities inside the forest.
KUDREMUKH RELOCATION DELAYS
In view of the apathy of forest officials, G Veeresh has submitted a memorandum to Forest, Ecology and Environment Minister Eshwar Khandre and has urged him to speed up the relocation project and implement the rehabilitation plan for 297 families.
A total of 1382 families are located in the forest area inside the Kudremukh National Park. Out of which, 550 families have voluntarily applied for the rehabilitation package. Out of this, 253 families have received a good rehabilitation package, a large amount of compensation, and are living a good life by buying land outside the national park.
However, unfortunately, 297 families are still waiting for the rehabilitation package so as to come out of the protected area and lead a peaceful life. But the Karnataka Government has failed to take up the rehabilitation project in the last 5 years. Due to this delay, the 297 families, waiting for relief, are living in total fear inside the Kudremukh National Park.
297 FAMILIES HAVE APPLIED FOR RESETTLEMENT
- 233 families in Kerekatte Wildlife Zone.
- 35 families in Kudremukh Wildlife Zone.
- 14 families in Karkala Wildlife Zone.
- 15 families in Belthangady Wildlife Zone.
- UTILISATION OF CAMPA FUNDS FOR VOLUNTARY REHABILITATION
In 2020. the Central government had allocated Rs 1350 crore to the Karnataka state as its share under CAMPA funds, and a significant portion of this fund can be utilized for voluntary rehabilitation of people from protected areas as per 2018 CAMPA rules.
Veeresh states in his memorandum to the Forest Minister, “Urgent action needs to be taken for the voluntary rehabilitation project in the Kudremukh National Park. There are thousands of crores available in the Campa fund, which could have been used for the rehabilitation project and also provide compensation to the remaining 297 families. However, the rehabilitation project has been neglected and not implemented for the last five years.”
In the last five years, only a handful of families have been rehabilitated, and no immediate work has been done. The remaining forest dwellers are crying out for compensation like the 235 families who received the best rehabilitation package amount and are living happily outside the protected area now.
Further, the farmers have appealed to the Forest Minister to fix the rehabilitation package as per the market price and provide an appropriate compensation package.
PREVENT HUMAN-WILDLIFE CONFLICTS
In this regard, Veeresh has urged the Karnataka Government to immediately expedite the rehabilitation project, which is currently underway in the Kudremukh National Park and take steps to complete the rehabilitation project within a fixed time frame.
Further, there is need to take care to provide rehabilitation packages to all the remaining families who have willingly applied for relocation and make their lives better. This will go a long way in preventing human-wildlife conflict that is escalating in and around the protected area of Kudremukh National Park.
(PHOTO CREDIT: ALL PHOTOS BY G VEERESH, CHIKKAMAGALURU)
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