State eyes barricades as solution to human-animal conflict

NT Correspondent

Bengaluru: Chief Minister Siddaramaiah told the state’s Forest Department that building of barricades would be prioritised to prevent human-animal conflict.

He made the comments at the Chief Minister's Medal Presentation Ceremony organised by the Karnataka Forest Department at Vidhana Soudha in Bengaluru on Friday.

On the occasion, he also said that these medals should be distributed to “those who have rendered exceptional service” every year since they hadn’t done the same during the pandemic.

“Steps should be taken to prevent human-wildlife conflicts. Funding to build barricades to prevent animals from coming out of forest areas will be looked into. It is the responsibility of the forest department to provide fodder and drinking water for wild animals within the forest area. Take appropriate action in this regard,” Siddaramaiah said.

The CM suggested that afforestation be done by planting more saplings.

“Out of the total land area of the state only 20 percent is forest area. This forest area must be expanded by at least 33 percent. Climate change can only be avoided by expanding the forest area,” he added.