In a significant move to protect both wildlife and communities, Karnataka's Forest, Ecology and Environment Minister Eshwar Khandre has announced a technology-driven strategy to curb the rising instances of man-animal conflict across the state. The minister revealed the plan while inaugurating new forest department facilities in Mangaluru on Friday.
Helpline and Command Centre: A Direct Line for Help
The cornerstone of this initiative is the newly established Divisional Command and Control Centre (CCC) in Mangaluru's Kadri area, which will operate in integration with a central hub in Bengaluru. To ensure swift public reporting, the department has activated a dedicated helpline: 1926. Citizens facing issues related to forest encroachment or wild animal threats can now directly flag their concerns through this number.
Minister Khandre emphasized that complaints received will be immediately assigned to the respective forest range officials. Range Forest Officers (RFOs) and Assistant Conservators of Forests (ACFs) will be mandated to visit the incident spots for assessment and action.
Focus on Elephant Conflict and New Task Force
A major focus area is mitigating human-elephant conflict, particularly in regions like Sullia taluk. Khandre stated that officials will take proactive measures to drive elephants straying into areas like Mandekolu back into forest confines. For each elephant intrusion, officials will assess the situation on the ground and decide whether to capture the animal or safely chase it back into the woods.
Adding muscle to this effort, the minister confirmed that the newly formed Elephant Task Force for the region will commence operations soon. "Karnataka is a model state when it comes to conservation of forest and environment. With the help of CCC, we are enhancing our response mechanism," Khandre said.
Boost for Cashew Growers: State Fair Announced for Mangaluru
In a separate but notable development aimed at supporting local agriculture, Minister Khandre announced the organization of a state-level cashew fair in Mangaluru in February. The announcement came during his visit to the Karnataka Cashew Development Corporation office.
Highlighting the economic importance of the crop, Khandre noted that cashew is widely cultivated in Dakshina Kannada district, with high demand for saplings. He pointed out that domestic production currently falls short of meeting demand, leading to imports. The fair is designed to encourage local growers and provide a platform for stakeholders to discuss market expansion.
Mamatha Gatti, Chairperson of the Karnataka Cashew Development Corporation, revealed the scale of local production, stating that the district yields an impressive 40,000 metric tonnes of cashew. The upcoming fair will feature product exhibitions, seminars, and other programmes to boost the industry's prospects.
