Karnataka govt. will decide on rehabilitating families in areas frequented by wild animals, says Minister K.J. George

Minister for Energy K.J. George, who is also the Minister in charge of Chikkamagaluru district, has said that the State government will consider shifting 17 families that require rehabilitation due to the frequent movement of wild animals. The Minister stated that he would discuss the issue with Chief Minister Siddaramaiah.

Mr. George on Saturday visited the families of the two persons who died in an elephant attack at Keregadde in Sringeri taluk on Friday, October 31.

The Minister told presspersons that the rehabilitation of families willing to relocate from the Kudremukh National Park required ₹300 crore. “The State government have submitted a proposal to the Centre seeking the funds. However, the 17 families staying in that area, where wild animals roam frequently, need to be shifted soon. The government will take a decision on the issue,” he added.

The Minister was accompanied by MLA for Sringeri T.D. Raje Gowda and other officials.

Following the deaths of Umesh Gowda and Harish Shetty, both residents of Keregadde village, in the elephant attack on Friday, the local people staged a protest and blocked traffic on the road connecting Sringeri and Karkala.