Sullia MLA urges full-cost solar fencing to tackle elephant menace

At the District Development Co-ordination and Monitoring Committee (DISHA) meeting held on Saturday, Sullia MLA Bhagirathi Murulya called on the Karnataka government to take urgent measures to protect agricultural lands from elephant attacks. She highlighted that elephants have become a major problem for farmers in Sullia and the surrounding regions, causing significant damage to crops and posing a constant threat to livelihoods.

The MLA proposed that the government should install solar-powered electric fencing systems to prevent elephant raids. While the state currently offers a 50% subsidy to farmers for such fencing, Murulya urged the government to bear the entire cost. She argued that farmers are already under severe financial strain due to multiple diseases affecting arecanut plantations, including yellow leaf disease, fruit rot disease, and leaf spot disease. Adding the burden of elephant attacks, she said, would push many families into deeper distress.

During the meeting, a Forest Department official provided an update on the elephant population in the region. An estimated 80 elephants are currently roaming the Sullia and Puttur areas. The official also shared compensation figures: the department has distributed ₹3.30 lakh to 19 farmers for crop destruction so far this year. However, an additional ₹73 lakh is still pending for 381 farmers, raising questions about the timeliness of relief.

In a separate matter, Deputy Commissioner H.V. Darshan directed the Forest Department to file a First Information Report (FIR) against GAIL Mangalore Petrochemicals Ltd. (GMPL). The company is accused of burying a dead peacock without informing the Forest Department, a violation of wildlife protection norms. The issue was initially raised by Bajpe Town Panchayat president Lokesh Poojary, who noted that GMPL authorities in the Mangaluru Special Economic Zone buried the bird without notifying the department. Despite a complaint from the town panchayat, no action had been taken at the time.

A Forest Department official explained that no case was registered initially because company authorities claimed ignorance of the law. However, the department later exhumed the carcass and conducted a post-mortem examination. Deputy Commissioner Darshan responded sternly, remarking that ignorance of the law is no excuse. He directed officials to register the FIR and investigate whether the bird was poisoned.

The DISHA meeting brought together district officials and elected representatives to review development and coordination issues. The MLA's appeal on elephant attacks underscores a growing human-wildlife conflict in the region, which experts say requires a balanced approach that safeguards both farmers and wildlife. The Forest Department's directive to expedite pending compensation and the legal action against GMPL reflect the administration's attention to accountability and procedural compliance.

Residents and farmers in Sullia have long demanded permanent solutions to prevent elephant raids, including better fencing and quicker compensation. With the MLA now pushing for full government funding of solar fences, the issue has gained political attention. Whether the state government will accept the demand remains to be seen, but the urgency voiced at the meeting highlights the pressing need to address the recurring losses faced by the agricultural community.