ELEPHANT RAMPAGE CONTINUES; HOUSE DAMAGED;

MADIKERI June 15, 2006

The elephant rampage is continuing in many parts of the district while the department sits only over meetings.

The front portion of a house belonging to Cheyanda Aiyanna at Ghattadalla near Siddapur was pulled down by a tusker early yesterday. Aiyanna stated that the family spent the night under terrible threat as the tusker kept attacking the house.

Two more houses were attacked and damaged in this area in a fortnight. The villagers state that the menace is on the high during monsoon and the forest department has done nothing to solve the problem.

MINISTER HOLDS MEETING;

The forest minister Chennigappa yesterday held a high level meeting at Hassan.

Elected representatives and officials from both Kodagu and Hassan took part in the meeting and discussed means to contain the elephant menace.

MLA K.G.Bopaiah and MLC Arun Machaiah told the minister that the dilapidated condition of solar fencing, planting of teak by destroying forest, shortage of water and food inside the forest is attractying them towards the towns.

They alleged inefficient committees and officials failing to manage the areas during the need of the hour. They also commented saying that the water lakes formed by the department remains only in the book. Minister Chennigappa