Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF) A.V. Joseph on Tuesday reportedly expressed displeasure over the slow progress of the trench works undertaken in Seshachalam hills and forest fringe areas to keep the wild elephant menace at bay, apart from deterring the red sanders smugglers to enter the forest range.
Mr. Joseph undertook a whirlwind tour of Kuppam and Palamaner forest ranges and inspected the ongoing elephant-proof trench works at many forest-fringe villages.
He said that the ongoing works in the areas abutting the S.V. National Park, cutting into Chittoor and Kadapa districts, to tackle the movement of smugglers into the Seshachalam Hills was going on at a snail’s pace.
At several vital junctions, close to the hills, the works were being tampered with, he observed.
Mr. Joseph also interacted with farmers at the hamlets vulnerable to elephant menace and heard their pleas.
“Herds of pachyderms frequently venture into our habitations, feasting on our crops, incurring huge loses to us. We are taking up night vigils at fields,” farmers told to Mr. Joseph.
DFO (Chittoor) T. Chakrapani, who accompanied the PCCF during the visit, said that trench works on a stretch of 125 km had been completed. “These trenches will certainly act as a deterrent against the elephant menace. The remaining work will be completed on a war footing ,” he said.
Meanwhile, a herd of wild elephants strayed into fields in Baireddipalle mandal under Palamaner constituency in the early hours of Tuesday. Farmers complained of loss of standing tomato and vegetable crops.
Ongoing works to deter movement of red sanders smugglers and elephants going on at a snail’s pace, says Principal Chief Conservator of Forests
