Bengaluru – In a move to address the escalating instances of human-animal conflict in Karnataka, Forest Minister Eshwar Khandre has formally urged the government to declare the issue a 'Natural Disaster,' similar to the policy adopted by the Kerala government.

The Minister raised the matter during a high-level review meeting chaired by the Chief Minister on Thursday. Given the increasing number of such incidents, Khandre proposed that Karnataka follow Kerala's lead in officially recognizing human-animal conflict as a natural calamity.

Demand for Mitigation Measures -

Due to the continuous rise in human-animal conflict cases, the Minister has pressed the Chief Minister for urgent mitigation strategies:

Coordination Committees: Khandre requested the Chief Minister to direct the formation of District-Level Coordination Committees to help alleviate and manage the conflicts effectively.

Staffing Shortage: Recognizing the challenges faced by the Forest Department, it was also decided in the meeting to address the staff shortage by recruiting new protection personnel to better handle the growing incidence of conflict. OnePlus Nord CE4 Lite 5G (Super Silver, 8GB RAM, 128GB Storage) | Lifetime Display Warranty | 5500 mAh Battery, 80W SUPERVOOC and Reverse Charging | 50MP Camera with OIS | 120Hz AMOLED Display

The Minister stressed the necessity of taking immediate and appropriate measures, noting that conflict-related incidents are increasing year after year. An eight-point program has reportedly been devised to prevent future conflicts. Also Read: 4-Day Krishi Mela Kicks Off in Bengaluru with Focus on Farmer Empowerment and Sustainability