Wayanad: Opposition Leader Slams Govt Over Wild Elephant Attacks, Demands Action

Opposition Leader V D Satheesan criticized the Kerala government for its lack of action in addressing the frequent wild elephant attacks in Wayanad. He highlighted the rising number of human casualties and the challenges faced by people living near forest areas.

Leader of the Opposition in the Kerala assembly, V D Satheesan, visited the family of Aji, who was trampled to death by a wild elephant in Wayanad's Mananthavady on February 10. Satheesan met the bereaved family and expressed his condolences.

Government's Apathy Criticized

Satheesan criticized the Left government for its inaction in addressing the frequent attacks by wild elephants in the hilly regions of the state. He highlighted that 85 people lost their lives in nine months last year due to wild animal attacks, and since 2016, the number of deaths has reached 909. The situation has become so dire that cultivation near forest areas has become impossible, leaving people worried about their future.

Compensation and Equipment Concerns

Satheesan demanded that the government take immediate action and shed its apathy towards the issue. He pointed out that the compensation announced for over 7,000 people who were either injured or lost a family member in wild animal attacks has yet to be disbursed. Additionally, the state budget allocated only Rs 48 crore for resolving the man-animal conflict, which is insufficient.

Satheesan also raised concerns about the Kerala Forest Department's lack of equipment to track wild elephants. He alleged that the Karnataka government had provided the user ID and password to locate the elephant that killed Aji through a radio collar on January 5, but there was a delay in decoding the radio collar signal by the Kerala Forest Department.

Daughter's Heart-wrenching Appeal

Aji's daughter, Alna, made an emotional appeal to the authorities, urging them to take necessary action to prevent similar tragedies in the future. She expressed her grief and said that no other child should have to cry like she did.

Hartal Called, Elephant Still at Large

Meanwhile, the Farmers Relief Forum, an organization in Wayanad, has called for a hartal in the district on Tuesday, and the Congress has extended its support. The forest department is yet to capture the wild elephant fitted with the radio collar by the Karnataka forest department. Officials stated that the elephant is moving fast, making it difficult to locate it in a suitable place for tranquilization.

Government Announces Measures

In response to the increasing man-animal conflict, the Kerala government announced the constitution of an inter-state coordination committee to monitor the movement of wild animals across state borders. The state government had earlier announced Rs 10 lakh compensation and assured a job to one of Aji's family members.

The tragic incident of Aji's death has highlighted the urgent need for the Kerala government to take effective measures to address the man-animal conflict in the state. The people living in the hilly regions deserve immediate attention and support from the authorities to ensure their safety and well-being.