Over 600 farmers staged a road blockade in protest against the frequent crop destruction by wild elephants in Denkanikottai town in Krishnagiri district on Tuesday. They sat on the road demanding that forest officials act to confine the wild elephants within the Reserve Forests, and for on-the-spot disbursal of compensation for the crop loss.
The agitation was led by X. Irudayaraj, district secretary of the Tamilnadu Vivasayigal Sangam and R. Sekar, taluk secretary, Communist Party of India (Marxist).
The office-bearers of the Tamilnadu Vivasayigal Sangam told TheHindu that they demanded moats along the Reserve Forest to prevent the wild elephants from entering the agricultural fields.
K. Rajendran, Assistant Conservator of Forests, A.K. Ulaganathan, District Forest Officer and police officials reached the spot and pacified the agitating farmers.
The farmers withdrew the road block after the officials assured them that they would come up with a permanent solution to prevent crop destruction by wild animals. It was decided to conduct a meeting of the officials, farmers here on December 22.
A.K. Ulaganathan, District Forest Officer, told The Hindu that to prevent the pachyderms from entering the fields, the Forest Department had formed an Anti-Depredation Squad in Hosur Forest Range. The squad along with 30 to 40 local people are patrolling the borders of the Reserve Forests from 8 p.m. to 4 a.m. every day.
The department received Rs.32 lakh for release of compensation to the farmers in Dharmapuri Circle.
The compensation amount will be disbursed either on Friday or Monday.
