Bengaluru: Farmers install illegal electric fences, endanger wildlife

Chamarajanagar: An order issued by the Siddaramaiah government prohibiting action against farmers drawing unauthorised power for their Irrigation Pumpsets (IP) or failing to fit them with meters is being misused by many. Several farmers are drawing power illegally to install electric fences around their fields, endangering the lives of wild animals straying into villages from the tiger reserves of Bandipur and Nagarahole National Parks.

A couple of weeks ago a tigress was found dead in the Kabini backwaters after it was electrocuted in a field on the fringes of the Nagarahole National Park and two elephants were electrocuted in fields in the Hediyala range of the Bandipur National Park. In the past couple of years six elephants have been similarly electrocuted, says a forest officer of the Bandipur National Park.

Though aware of the electrocution of wild animals by fences erected with illegal power supply, the Chamundeshwari Electricity Supply Corporation Limited (CESC) is not able to take action against the farmers involved owing to the government order protecting them, claim its officials.

“The last state government passed this order not to antagonise farmers who were in distress owing to the poor rainfall and crop losses,” says a CESC officer helplessly.

But a senior forest official argues that even if the CESC cannot take action against farmers drawing unauthorized power for their IP sets it can act against unauthorised electrification of fences. “It is only being lethargic,” he regrets

However, a CESC Vigilance Squad officer says efforts are being made to create awareness among villagers not to draw power for their fences.