Fear has gripped the residents of South Kodagu with the increase in tiger attacks. Already, three people have lost their lives in tiger attacks in the last 15 days.
Further, several cattle have fallen prey to tiger attacks in the region.
Plantation labourers have been protesting against the indifferent attitude of the forest department.
Congress leader and advocate in the Supreme Court, Brijesh Kalappa, said that the forest department officials should wake up before there is an outburst of people’s anger.
The government should issue permission for the people in the region to use guns to protect themselves from wild animals, he said.
He also said the restrictions imposed by the forest department for the use of guns is not right.
“The tiger which has killed three innocent people should be captured immediately,” he added.
‘Need a scientific solution’
BJP district executive member Telapanda Shivakumar Nanaiah said that the forest department officials should take the responsibility of saving the lives of people as well.
The officials concerned should initiate action against the wild animals, within the ambit of the law, without waiting for government orders, he added.
“Elected representatives cannot do everything. The officials should draw the attention of the government and should provide a solution to the problems. In connection with the increasing attacks by tigers on human beings, the officials from the forest department should conduct a high-level study, as capturing or killing the tigers may not be the correct solution all the time,” he said.
Shivakumar Nanaiah opined that there is a need to come up with a permanent and
scientific solution and urged the government to find the reason for the increased tiger attacks.
The forest department officials cannot pass the buck to the higher officials. Also, there is no use in blaming the government, he said.
‘MLAs should resign’
Kodagu Rakshana Vedike president Pawan Pemmaiah urged the forest department and the MLAs of the district to step down, owning moral responsibility.
He held the officials and the elected representatives responsible for the loss of three lives in tiger attacks.
“Had the officials concerned captured the tiger in February itself, the situation wouldn’t have worsened. The forest minister and the MLAs of the district have not taken appropriate measures. People have lost faith in them. The forest minister has not held a special meeting even after the loss of lives of people and cattle. He has failed to issue proper directions to the officials. The MLAs have not been drawing the attention of the government towards the issue even though they are part of the ruling party. The interest of the people has been sacrificed by the MLAs,” he said.
Kodagu Rakshana Vedike will support the protests being conducted by the villagers in South Kodagu. If appropriate action is not taken soon, the forum members, along with people, will stage day and night dharna in front of the Aranya Bhavana, he said.
Pawan Pemmaiah said that the 10-day-long operation carried out by the forest department to capture the tiger is an eye-washer. The forest department officials and the elected representatives do not respect people’s lives.
He urged the government to allow the people to use guns to protect themselves from wild animals.
“Otherwise, people may have to take to the guns, left without any choice,” he added.