Farmers demand permanent solution to the region’s man-animal conflicts

The Forest Department has assured farmers that one of the elephants causing trouble in the Thadagam valley in Coimbatore will be captured and translocated within a week if other measures to mitigate the human-animal conflicts fail to yield results. The assurance was given to a representation of farmers from Thadagam valley at a meeting held at the District Forest Officer’s office on Sunday.

Assistant Principal Chief Conservator of Forests Deepak Srivastava, who headed the meeting, said kumkis would be engaged for the operation to drive out the elephants fromThadagam and Thondamuthur.

Setback in operation

“Kumki Wasim from Mudumalai Tiger Reserve (MTR) will be roped in for driving out wild elephants as kumki John was withdrawn from the field due to musth. The kumki operation will continue for two to three days before taking a final decision. We will try ensure that no decision is taken in haste. We will explore all possibilities before taking the final decision,” said Mr. Srivastava, adding that the Forest Department was concerned about the farmers, their lives and property.

Pointing out that capturing of the wild elephant was a complicated procedure, Mr. Srivastava said at least a week’s time was required to complete the various arrangements.

P. Kandasamy of Tamil Nadu Vivasayigal Sangam, who headed the farmers’ representation, said the APCCF assured them that orders were ready to capture two tuskers — Vinayagan and Chinna Thambi. He claimed that the Forest Department has plans to capture Vinayagan first.

‘Meagre compensation’

“The assurance on capturing one of the wild elephants was given when we informed our decision to file a mass petition and stage an agitation at the grievance redressal meeting on Monday. We also demanded a permanent solution to tackle the conflict situation. A tripartite meeting between the Forest Department, farmers, and legislators (Ministers, MPs and MLAs) should be convened at the earliest to revise the current structure of compensation given to farmers for crop damage,” said Mr. Kandasamy.

He said the compensation of ₹500 by the Forest Department for a damaged coconut palm was meagre compared to the compensation given by the Power Grid Corporation of India.

C.R. Jayaprakash, who does organic farming in Thadagam valley, said many farmers were not applying for the meagre compensation as the process itself was time and money consuming and cost them money.

Tedious process

“Small number of crops are damaged or raided by wild animals throughout the year. Farmers often choose not to claim the compensation as the sum was not enough to repair the damage. Compensation given for one coconut palm is a pittance, despite waiting for yearsthat too after years of waiting. I did not get even that compensation for last two crop raids,” he said.