Farmers protest in Kodagu, block highway over wildlife conflict

Madikeri: The State Highway 90 at Thithimathi in Kodagu district was blocked by farmers who were protesting, demanding respite from wildlife conflict.

Hundreds of farmers led by Kadyamada Manu Somaiah, president of district unit of the Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha, voiced their anguish against the forest department. They sought the presence of an MLA and MP at the protest site.

The farmers, who blocked State Highway 90, threatened to set the Thithimathi range forest office on fire. However, barricades were placed as a precautionary measure by the police, preventing the protesters from entering the office premises.

Farmers, meanwhile, sat on the road and shouted slogans against the forest department. They demanded the presence of MLA, MP and other senior officials from the forest department to provide a permanent solution to the escalating wildlife conflict. Farmers alleged that lives are being lost in Kodagu district due to the negligence of senior officials of the forest department.

Virajpet MLA AS Ponnanna visited the spot and told the agitators that several measures are being planned to curb wildlife conflict in the district. “I am also saddened by the deaths and injuries caused by human-elephant conflict in the district. Many steps have been taken in the last three years to prevent conflict,” he said.

He assured to bring the forest minister to the district after the cabinet reshuffle. Mysore MP Yaduveer Wadiyar also met the protesters and assured to draw the attention of the central govt to prevent human-wildlife conflict in the district.

The protest went on till noon and disrupted traffic movement on the Mysuru-Thithimathi Road. Several leaders from various organisations addressed the protesters and expressed dissatisfaction with the functioning of the forest department.