Mangalore: Minister for Forest, Environment and Ecology, B Ramanath Rai said that the Karnataka state has highest number of elephants and tigers in entire India.
Speaking to reporters, the minister here on Tuesday said that it has been the efforts of wildlife conservation. He said that the state has 6,000 elephants and 300 tigers and added the department has been successful with activities of animal conservation.
To a question on elephants ransacking the farm, the minister said it’s a result of forest land encroachment. In some places, the part of the forest is owned by private persons. We have been trying to come out with a solution, considering all these aspects, he said.
He said the state government has agreed to provide Rs 212 crore in the last cabinet meeting and it will sanctioned in the next budget. The fund will be used to fix fencing, on the lines of the South Africa model. Solar and other sorts of fencing did not stop elephants ransacking the land, he said.
Janatha Darshana
District in-charge minister Ramanath Rai said a special taluk-level ‘Janatha Darshana’ will be held on every Tuesday, in the month of October. It is for the people to voice out their problems. District officers will take part in the meeting, he said.
