Continue with steps taken to prevent jumbo menace in Dindigul dt, says MadrasHC

Chennai: The Madras high court has directed the state government to continue with the steps taken to prevent the menace of elephants at several villages in Dindigul district.

A division bench comprising justices S. Manikumar and Subramonium Prasad gave the directive while disposing of a public interest litigation filed by A.R. Gokulakrishnan of Kodaikannal.

The bench said it was stated by the petitioner that during 2006-2015 the elephants spent their mevement from Parappalar towards Kannivadi and even to Athoor Dam (water source for Dindigul). In the year 2016, they entered into the coffee growing areas of lower Palani hills. At the upper Palani hills, they were periodically visiting several villages. The elephants were starving at Annamalai Tiger Reserve above Amaravathi Dam, due to infestation of Thorny tree species, like Nattu Karuvel, Odai Vel and Kudai Vela Maran, Seemai Karuvel on the bufferzone. All the plants were imported from Africa and America. They were not food for elephants, and other animals and they hurt the elephants. The elephants were moving towards Kudhirayar, where there was good cropping and abundant water resources, but which were inhabited by humans.

The elephants cause menace to people, when they enter with the fields or even injure people. It was also the case of the petitioner that the state has not taken adequate measures to prevent the menace by elephants, the bench added.

The bench said the authorities have filed their counter affidavit, bringing on record the measures taken to ensure that elephant menace was reduced. Perusal of the counter affidavit shows that the state government was aware of the elephant menace.

“It is true that due to increase in pollution, there is pressure on the forest and this pressure has resulted in reduction of forest cover which has resulted in the increase of man-animal conflict. Counter affidavit would show that the state government is taking steps to counter the problem. Counter affidavit is taken on record. Writ petition is disposed of, with a direction to the state government, to continue with the steps taken to prevent the menace of elephants”, the bench added.