While farmers are agitated over continuing crop damages by wild elephants in Thadagam valley, wild elephants went on a rampage in agricultural fields on Saturday night. The elephants damaged corn, coconut and banana crops.
A lone elephant entered banana plantation, belonging to Elangovan at Varapalayam, and damaged at least 50 trees. Many of the banana trees trampled by the elephant were nearing harvesting stage.
Similarly, wild elephants went on a rampage in corn fields belonging to at least three farmers.
P. Kandasamy of Tamil Nadu Vivasayigal Sangam, said the concern over repeated crop damage by wild elephants even after the deployment of kumkis in Thadagam valley was conveyed to Assistant Principal Chief Conservator of Forests Deepak Srivastava at the meeting of farmers and Forest Department held on Sunday.
“We have sought protection to farmers’ lives and the crops. We learnt that ₹70 lakh to ₹80 lakh is the total allotment given by the State Government to the Forest Department for paying compensation to farmers for crop damages in Coimbatore. The allotment is insufficient as ₹4 lakh is the solatium given in case of loss of life.
“At least 10 people are killed in elephant attacks a year,” said Mr. Kandasamy.
