Bengaluru: The number of wild animals venturing from forests into human habitats is on the rise, leading to an increase in human-wildlife conflict incidents. Necessary measures must be taken to prevent such conflicts. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has directed officials to shift from desk-bound routines to frequent field visits to forest areas, emphasizing priority on wildlife and forest conservation. Speaking at the National Martyrs' Day program organized by the Forest Department at the Forest Bhavan in Malleshwaram on Thursday, the CM stated that senior officials spending time in offices instead of visiting forest regions could effectively curb malpractices like forest fires, deforestation, and wildlife poaching.
He stressed that this is a primary responsibility for senior officers, which must be fulfilled comprehensively.Lack of Accountability in Tree Planting EffortsThere is a notable deficiency in monitoring tree planting initiatives. The Forest Department plants lakhs of saplings annually, incurring costs in crores of rupees. Since the Congress government came to power, 11 crore saplings have been distributed and planted. However, the department lacks records on how many have survived and how many have perished, the CM pointed out critically. Planting trees is not merely a task; it should result in the expected increase in the state's forest cover. Karnataka's forest cover stands at approximately 21% of its geographical area, far below the national policy's recommended 33% threshold for ecological stability.
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'Don't Hoard Funds—Plant Trees': Stern Directive to OfficialsThe Forest Department is not resource-constrained. Funds are available from the Pollution Control Board. Utilize these for projects like constructing railway barricades and other essential works. Hoarding money won't lead to tree planting, the CM firmly instructed the officials. When Forest Minister Eshwar Khandre mentioned that the board was not releasing funds, the CM immediately responded, "If the board refuses, bring them to me."Priority on Wildlife Conservation Amid Population SurgeKarnataka has seen a significant rise in wildlife numbers.
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The state leads the nation with an estimated elephant population of 6,395, while ranking second in tiger numbers at around 563 as per the latest national estimates (though a recent 2024 reserve-specific survey noted 393 tigers, attributed to natural dispersal).To support this growth, expanding forest areas is crucial. The government provides compensation to those suffering losses from human-wildlife conflicts, but this is not the core solution. Over 35,000 such incidents were registered between April 2024 and March 2025 alone, underscoring the urgency.
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The focus must be on preventive measures to ensure wildlife remains within forests, the CM emphasized.Minister Khandre Shares Key InitiativesAddressing the event, Forest Minister Eshwar Khandre announced plans to develop a beautiful park on 153 acres in Madappanahalli, Yelahanka, with Chief Minister Siddaramaiah laying the foundation stone soon. Since the Congress government assumed office, 2,000 acres of forest land have been freed from encroachments. Additionally, 30,000-40,000 acres have been declared as protected areas, he informed.The program was attended by Principal Chief Conservator of Forests Meenakshi Negi and several senior officials.